BUSINESS LIFE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13286, 19 September 1906, Page 9

BUSINESS LIFE.

EMPLOYMENT OF BARMAID."}. It is stated in the report of the Joint Committee on the employment of barmaids that more- than a fifth of the total number of female;, employed in bars in England and Wales are girls under 20 years of age. The following table of ages is given: — Employed. Between 10 and 11 25 Between 14 and 15 134 Between 15 and 20 6,069 Between 20 and 25 12,023 Between 25 and 35 7.821 Between 35 and 45 1.185 Between 45 and 55 322 Between 55 and 65 ... .... 107 . : Between. 65 and 75 ........ . -~.. ; . ..20,.*.,Over 75 ... ... ... ... 3 Total - 27,707 In London alone the child barmaids number 1442, fifteen of them not having attained the ago of fifteen. Publicans are said .to prefer as a rule young girls, and in support of this it is mentioned that in 350 advertisements stipulating ago 220, or nearly twothirds of the whole, asked for barmaids of twenty or under: while only thirty-two of the advertisements wore for women of twenty-five or over. In explanation of this preference the Joint Committee say.-: "Tito attractions of girlish inexperience, a pretty face, and a pretty figure probably tend more than any other kind of attraction could do to make a bar seductive, and fully repay a publican for the trouble needed to secure them."

SHOULD EMPLOYEES SUGGEST

. IMPROVEMENTS? It lias often boon suggested that patents aro ideas wrested from men who have not had sufficient capital to run them, but experiments by many firms in the way of offering prizes for suggestions has not resulted in anv great success. An experimenter, writing in the Textile Manufacturer, says that the idea box when first put up is regarded as an outlet for grievances: "The first crop of suggestions is generally the last Those who can put them on paper run dry after the first attempt, while those who possess the most useful ideas could not .possibly put them down m black and while. Then, again, those who think they have made good suggestions feel themselves slighted if no notice is taken, i hoy air their grievances among their fellows, and the belief spreads that no notice is taken of the suggestions sent in."

The truth is that many a man has ideas and longs to see them take shape, hut therei« no sympathy between " the bo«s ami his hand*, and mechanical conditions remain undiscussed ; , . ■• V manager who recognises cpnekness ot observation and facility of meeting, ■emergencies will learn more from an incidental half-hour's talk than from ' .suggestions invited, ami he can got them red-hot, just at a time when their need is most in evidence. Of course there aro always to ho round workpeople who will criticise anything under the sun, and their own foremen by prcJfliencp. but Hum- ore 110 uso. . AinOTU-ai; manufacturers have christened this weltaie work, and there is no doubt, that the mote confidence felt, in the management of a mill in ordinary matters the more easy it '> not only to get something moro than a hireling's work, but to get suggestions from those who arc able to give them. last experience, too, may have shown employees that too often they get nothing but thanks for their ideas, however valuable they prove." BREVITIES. Success is generally due to holding on, and failure to letting go. Never say die-never tell a lie; ■ no ,. Hml - Never put your ringer m another pel sou 8 pie.

Half a loafs better than no bread, and the same remark holds good with crumbs.

It is said that Philadelphia is at present subsisting on a diet of distil.ed water and fumigated bananas.

One billion, four hundred millions of letters and packages were carried by the postmen of the United Kingdom last year. Stupendous!

The lazy man, who hates any task demanding initiative, will willingly expend a measure of energy on obstruction that would have been sufficient to. have carried him on to achievement.

America has no insular prejudices. It drains the world for ideas, picks the best, and adapts them. All this adaptability, phis enthusiasm, is at the bottom of American prosperity to-day.—John Foster I- rase r.

Truth will out occasionally, not only in an affidavit, but also in a company piospectus. We read the other day in the announcement of a forthcoming .Motor 'Bus flotation that the capital of the concern would consist of £100,000 in £1 shares.— John Bull. •