100,000 BARMAIDS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 933, 23 January 1908, Page 21

100,000 BARMAIDS.

In a recent letter in the New Zealand Herald ” from that paper’s correspondent in London, it is stated that something like 100,000 barmaids were represented by the deputation of 12 ladies who waited on the Home Secretary yesterday, in connection with the rumoured intention of the Government to deal wich the emp oymen. of women in licensed premises in the coming Licensing Bill. Miss GoreBrown, in introducing the deputation, said that two proposals were being brought forward by the promoters of the movement against the barmaids- One was that magistrates should be empowered to force any publican to send away his barmaids. The effect of that proposal might be to deprive 100,000 women of their employment. Was it realised what the result of such a calamity wou d be in the labour world? Barmaids had already had experience of magisterial interference in G’asgow. It was not fair to put people’s livelihood in such a precarious position. The other which was to prevent any new barmaids from entering the trade, was just as bad. Already the women’s 'labour market was terribly overcrowded. Mr Herbert Gladstone was able to assure the deputation that the Government had no intention of prohibiting the employment of women in licensed premises.