SUFFERING HUMANITY. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4023, 9 January 1875, Page 5 (Supplement)

SUFFERING HUMANITY. TO THE EDITOR.

*>Ht—Tn the Assembly, \wo sessions ago, Mr Kradsliaw lftost praisoworthily introduced a measure, and which lie successfully earned, called I tnuiK, the Employment of Females Act; but it Was not until some extreme pressure jww brought to bear by the authorities liere, either in the torni ot threatening or actually summoning some of the employers of this class of labour for nonattendance to this benevolent legislation, that any notice was taken of it. We ail kuq\y liqw mauy h.vndreds there uro who now, 1 may say daily, thank Mr Bmdshaw, and all who sympathise with him m the successful issue of his mod work. b

Now, Sir, last session Mr Fox was equally successful with the Licensing Bill lie introduced (although I am sorry tint up to the present moment it has been attended with a yen- difl'ejeiit result), regulating the hours of a class equally worthy of our sympathy, and who have at all Units boon much more taxed than those so ably watched over by Mr Brudslmw—l refer to those persons occupying the position of barmaids in our hotels—the authorities have never yet interfered to suppress the very cruel treatment of this class of our community. I believe it is customary for these persons to co'ii■.nenco their daily labours (Sundays included ap 8, at l;>t»>s!; 9 'o'clock, and 'almost without exception, they are expected to render their services until 12 at night. Now Sir I call this cruelty in its most flagrant form : and it does not consist of excessive hours only. From observation, I think if these persons are subject to annoyances at one time more than another it is towards tho hour prescribed by o.ie local Mugisliate as the fitting «i !u for all '-' dcoent'a'id respouuaoU" persona to be at home? I see therefore, a twofold object in enforcing this law It will benefit and elevate those holding the position of barmaids, and, iv many instances deprive our "roaming spirits of niid'ni»ht" of their great attraction at the hotels, and if deprived of this, I think perhaps by some bettor hours would ba observed, therefore the means of saving hifinv Au aching heat] and many sixpeiic-.-s. Tha 42ml clause of the Licensing Act of 1874 provides that no woman other than th? wife or daughter of tho licenses of a hotel shall be employed in a bar more than ten hours a day or before the hour of eleven in tho forenoon or after eleven o'clock at night; and tho following <;huse presciibesa penalty of £20 for a hixaiih^f that jji-ovisir.n. ' ' I have sometimes questioned whether the yonamssioncr of our Police has had his attention directed to the abuse of this law ; if so, whether he has delegated power to his subordinates to act; and if he has, why do they not exercise it ? Perhaps it is that they find it answer their purpose better to command thoii- whisky frjje at'the HnVi «r the hotolkeepers by winking at this injustice, rather than interfere on behalf of those who cannot ameliorate their own position ; at any rate, it is quite time this matter was looked into, more particularly when I am assured, upon very reliable authority, that in more than o'-ie instance during tho holidays, these unfortunate attendants were at their post of duty at 2 o'clock in the mining, and deponent ssivah- not how much later. • ■ •

iiaping oy your aid to see thnse thus occupied benefited, ami this injustice reotiiied by tho strict ouforcerneut of the law—l am, &p ,

Sympathy