A PROTEST FROM BARMAIDS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1172, 26 September 1912, Page 25

A PROTEST FROM BARMAIDS.

THEIR “RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES.” A large number of Auckland barmaids met last week to consider tne advisableness of sending to Parliament a protest against proposed legislation which will have the effect of further restricting the employment of barmaids. The Bill which was the subject of discussion is one which was introduced by the Minister of Labour. It is intended to remedy the flaw in the law regarding the employment of barmaids whereby licensees have been able to employ unre-gistered-bhTmaids. in private bars; It is to be effected by inserting the words “or private bar” in section 36, sub-section 1 of the Licensing Amendment Act, 1910. A private bar is desued as “any room, passage, or lobby, in any licensed premises, wherein the public may enter and purchase liquor, other than a public bar.” If the Bill is passed in its present form only barmaids already registered will be allowed to sell liquors in licensed premises. Many of the petitioners, though not registered, are now employed in various hotels. The meeting decided to forward the following petition to the Premier :■>— “The memorial of the undersigned citizens of the Dominion of New Zealand shows that in view of the probability of legislation being introduced into Parliament at its present session, seriously affecting the rights and privileges of some of the undersigned, and still more seriously the livelihood of some of them, your petitioners now respectfully submit that if such legislation is introduced, a strong effort should be made either entirely to prevent the injuries anticipated or at any rate to modify the results thereof. The legislation referred to is in connection with the proposed amendment of Part 2 of the Licensing Amendment Act, 1910. That part of the Act of 1910 has undoubtedly caused considerable injury to many of your petitioners and persons similarly - circumstanced. Many of your petitioners, though not registered in accordance with the provisions of that Act, are now employed in various hotels throughout the Dominion in positions analogous to that of a barmaid within the meanjug of the Act, and are, as you are aware, lawfully so employed. Some of your petitioners suffered great hardships in consequence of the passing of the Act, owing to illness and other causes over which they had no control preventing them coming within the stringent provisions' of the Act contained in Section 36, Sub-section < of that Act, though in some cases such analogous positions had been occupied by such persons for many years previous to the passing of that Act. Seeing that some of your petitioners are earning their living in a perfectly legitimate manner in all respects, and in an entirely lawful calling and employment, and seeing that the proposed legislation threatens to deprive them of those means of living without any compensation, your petitioners most respectfully submit their views to you in this manner, and most earnestly urge you, as the head of the Legislature of this

Dominion, to assist them to retain their rights and privileges. We would, further respectfully point out to you that many of your petitioners are supporters, and sometimes sole supporters, of the members of their family, and would indeed be hard put to it to obtain any substituted employment if prevented from following their present and customary avocation. We trust that we may look to you, as the head of the Legislature, to safeguard' our' rights-and pri-. vileges and to avert dangers nowj threatening us and those depending upon • us.” • - ■ It is understood that similar action will be taken in other centres.