DOOMED BARMAIDS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7415, 29 May 1902, Page 2

DOOMED BARMAIDS.

4. TO BE BANISHED FROM GLASGOW. THEIR DISTRESSFUL FATE. Much sympathy, it is reported, is expressed in Glasgow with the barmaids, whose banishment- from public-houses, restaurants, and hotels has been decided on. An official who is conversant with the views of the Licensing Magistrates, says that the Licensing Bench really intends to carry out the measuve at once. "I fancy what will be done," he says, "will he this. The. Magistrates will ask each applicant when he comes up for the renewal of his license whether he will dispense with barmaids in- his public-house, 'restaurant, or dining-room, and if he refuses, then the inevitable will happen— 'his certificate will not Ibe renewed. The order will apply equally to high-class restaurants and to the lower-class city eating-rooms.", The Glasgow Bench is about equally divided on questions of general temperance reform, but on this question of the barmaids ifc is said to be unanimous. It is pointed out on behalf of the Magis-. trates that the recommendation wa* made two years ago, at the April Licensing Courc, and that a sufficiently long interval has elapsed to have allowed license-holders to effect ihe change gradually, without inflicting hardship on any one. To this, the trade reply that to carry out the order would simply throw about 1500 barmaids out of employment. Counsel has-been engaged on both sides, and the point will be bitterly contested at the Court. The barmaids are greatly distressed at . their impending fate, and some of them are urging that an agitation against the new rule should be commenced.