THE BARMAID QUESTION IN VICTORIA.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 694, 25 June 1903, Page 22

THE BARMAID QUESTION IN VICTORIA.

At a convention of the Victorian Alliance at Melbourne, there was an amusing episode, touching the subject of barmaids. Mr A. G. G. Ramsay, M.L.A., moved as follows : — “ That in view of the great evils, both physical and moral, involved in the employment of women and girls as 'barmaids, this conference is of opinion that the engagement of persons not at present employed in this capacity should b.e immediately prohibited, dnd that the employment of those at present engaged should cease after a reasonable notice.” A public house bar was not, he said, a place where any of them would like to have a wife or a sister employed. There were countries like the United States and Canada where public opinion prevented the employment of barmaids. An- American saloon Keeper had imported a number of English barmaids, but 'his customers very quickly caused him to send them back. Public opinion in Victoria was not in the same condition. Very little could be achieved here by moral suasion; the minority was always ready to take advantage of the absence of restraint. Mr T. A. Rogers (Christian Citizens’ League, Malvern) seconded the motion. It had, he said, been reported in “ The Age ’ ‘ that while he had beeii giving his testmony on the barmaid question in Tasmania some ladies left the hall, because of the coarseness of his remarks. The fact was that the ladies left the hall because of the conduct of a number of publicans and their supporters. He tad personally inquired into the barmaid question in Launceston, having gone round the bars himself to get the advantage of personal observation, and had made the assertion that seven-tenths of the barmaids were leading immoral lives. That statement was made on the strength of information received from a gentleman who had sent a report to the police commissioner. And these barmaidsi could be seen in the streets of the town dressed in the highest fashion. Mrs Marks (1.0.G.T.) said she felt very much what Mr Rogers had said. She had been a temperance worker for, 51 years, and belonged to ’Casmania. She continued : I will defy him or any other person who has ever been to Launceston to say that you have any people walking the streets of that, town as you have in Melbourne. I defy any person—

The Chairman : It was a mistake for Mr Rogers to make that statement, and it would be a still greater mistake to continue the discussion.

Mrs Marks : I am a native of Tasmania, and I have never seen in Launceston passing a public house anything of which I could complain. I have been nearly round the world, and I hold that when you go to Tasmania you see respectable people, and you can walk the streets without being robbed. (Laughter and applause.) I feel bound to say this as I must defend my own people—the people where I belong. (Applause.) After further, discussion the motion was put and carried.

In Liverpool a license has been objected to because drink was sold oq credit, or “ chalked up on the slate.” The bench granted the publican another chance, but stated-that this offence was “ one of the most serious that a licensee could commit.”

The French Minister of Finance estimates the quantity of wine produced in France in 1902 at about 880,000,000 gallons, which is 31 per cent, less than in 1901, ahd 6.45 per cent, less than the average of the preceding decennial period. This is stated to be insufficent to meet home (France) and export demands, the deficiency being about 13,000,000 hectols. It is reported that the price has already been effected, and has risen to 20.28 f. (9d per gallon) per hectorlitre (22 gallons)'for “ vin ordinaire,” as compared with 15.35 f. in 1901, and 17.41 f. in 1900. At this rate the vintage will return £32,000,000 to the producers, as compared with £38,000,000 in the previous year, and £50,000,000 ,in 1900. The output of superior quality wine has decreased eyen more than that of the lower qualities, Th® quantity and value of superior quality wine—s*o f. ai hectol and over—and the average price for hectolitre (2s 6d per gallon) for the last three years was as follows : — 1902, 836,581 hectols, value 55,402,876 f., the average price per hectol being 66.19 f. ; 1901, 1,280,175 hectols, value 81,922,561 f., average per hectol, 63.40 f. ; 1900, 1,825,472 hectols, , value 122,197,000 f., average per hectol 67.50 f. The growers of choice vintage?' have suffered from the reduced output rather more than the ordinary growers, without benefiting by an equivalent rise in price. The alcoholic strength was less than in 1901.