REGISTRATION OF BARMAIDS

Southland Times, Issue 16691, 21 March 1911, Page 5

REGISTRATION OF BARMAIDS

SOME DEBATABLE POINTS. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, March 20. The Secretary of the Hotel Employees' Federation, Mr Long, of Auckland, today telegraphed to D. McLaren, M.P., and Mr Carey, Secretary of the Wellington Cooks’ and Waiters’ Union, asking them to see the Minister of Labour and to protest against the forms for registration of barmaids being sent to licensees. The Unions in each centra should undertake the responsibility; otherwise there would be much abuse. It is stated that the telegram Is a preliminary step. The Labour Department was interviewed in support of the protest. The position the Union took up was that the forms of registration could be obtained at the office of the local inspector or. in smaller centres where there was no labour bureau, from the sergeant ot police. The intention of the legislature,, it was pointed out, was to confine the employment of women behind the bat to those now in the trade, and those dependent on this calling for their livelihood at the time the legislation was passed. There was risk of Indiscriminate issuing of certificates. The Labour Department, in reply to the representations, made it clear that it did not wish to debar any woman genuinely following this calling from the privilege of still remaining in this class of employment, and so was anxious to see that every girl had an opportunity of ’registering by affording her a chance of easily obtaining a registration form. In addition the Department did not wish to be put in the position of possibly having to institute proceedings for any abuse of registration, without having given full warning of the obligation in this matter. There would be no registration without the fullest inquiry into the bona fldes of applicants by inspectors of the department, and in smaller centres the police would be asked to cooperate with officers of the Department in seeing that the regulations were properly complied with. A point of some interest has been raised by a correspondent who asks whether the period of service necessary to qualify for registration has all to be spent in New Zealand. He is of opinion that as the section stands it allows women to come across from, say, Sydney or Melbourne and apifly for registration without fear of refusal so long as. within twelve months preceding November 21st last, she has been employed in a bar for a continuous period of at least three months. As far as can be seen, he says, there is absolutely nothing to confine qualifying service to the Dominion. The point was referred to officers of the Labour Department by a New Zealand Times representative. These officials said that, as it had not previously been brought under their notice, they were not prepared to say what force was in it. If, however, it arose in connection with any application legal advice would have to bo taken.