Military Mordlist's Ruling Upset by New Mayor Ron, sPRCLAL, SERVICE
Hankow, Aug. 10.
Modern Chinese girls in "Hankow Ino longer need to worry. that they will be permanently: deprived of the privilege of going to barber shops. 'The'vediet has gone forth that the ban on women visiting hairdressing establishments. has been lifted and -that, in future, men and women can' sit side by Iside in barber shops. The lifting Jof the "ban means a victory not only for the women, but for the barbers as well. The latter claim that the restriction has been a [severe blow to their business, be-, jing imposed in violation of the Kuomintang. principle ofthe emancipation of women.
Barber shops for both men and women in Hankow had a mush~ room growth and thrived in the learly days of the revolution. \Following the overthrow of the military regime, thousands of girls and even. middle-aged women began to wear bobbed hair and there arose a big demand for barbers for women. Ninety-five barber shops with fancy he Red Rose," came into exist Women's hair-became a flourishing busi~ Mess and not a few of the working: class were attracted to the trade, JGrocery shop employees, office be Jand even clerks of small firms were Known to have given up their jobs to lean shaving and trimming.
The Moral General Then came Gen. Wong T-nan, Chief of the Public Safety Bureau, who declared that it was against moral principles for women, -¢specially girls, to visit barber shops Jand have their hair dressed by men. 'A. proclamation was issued and all barbers in the city were warned that [they would be placed under arrest Jand heavily fined if they were seen giving attention to both a Tale. patrons in. the same Dir. Our "women have become modern," the Public Safety -Chiet declared, "and morality is going rapidly downhill. We have to promote decency everywhere and must make \things safe, even in bather shops.
So long as Gen. Wong T-nan remained in office, the law hnd to be obeyed, but the change of government brought hope to. the. batters fand to. the defenders of equal privileges for women. A_50,000~ wond-petition was drawn, up and submitted tothe new Mayor, the Jarguments in favour of "cod dressing" being set forth at length fand equality for women being ithe main point emphasized. MrvLia Wen-tau, who is launching aig programme for social reforms, in Tine with Kuomintang teaching, con. Jdemmed the ruling enforced by the Public. Safety Bureau and a. pro-Jelamation was issued to-day, order-the inmediae removal' of the "The barbers, however, are prder-Jed to fornish a guarantee that they will permit no clandestine meetings within the precincts of their eqtabwarmed tat they mast ments and the women are
their privilege to cause "morality 0 rapidly downhill"—United
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.