SIR,—As you so kindly afforded me space in your paper,
just over a year ago, to reply and comment on an article dealing with hairdressing, I would be grateful if you could give me the same facilities now to observe on Miss Whitehorn's article in the Spec- tator of February 12.
I saw and heard Miss Whitehorn on television in a discussion with the General Secretary of a Craft organisation and the owner of a private school of hairdressing and to judge from her opinion then, and as she said in her article, she has indeed been un- fortunate in her choice of hairdressers. As all the speakers in the discussion agreed, it is difficult to establish standards, acceptable to the whole of the Craft, without Statutory Registration. But it is not true that anyone can register with the Council; entry is by examination only and while anyone with a basin and a pair of scissors may practise as a hair- dresser and describe themselves as such, Registra- tion with the Council does demand certain standards and qualifications. Nor is it correct to state that the Council has made little progress with its proposed Bill, Introduced under the Private Members Ballot ten years agO it reached a Third Reading and just failed to become law by fourteen votes. The recom- mendations from Parliament have been embodied in the revised Bill and an examinations system intro- duced so that a Member of Parliament, who supports the aim of the Council, and draws a place in the ballot, can present proposed legislation which has been discussed by the House and its shortcomings made good in the light of the experience gained.
I am pleased to report that, at a recent meeting of Craft organisations, held to discuss differences of .opinion in the existing draft Bill, complete unanimity was reached on the necessity for Statutory Registra- tion of hairdressers in the interest of the public and the organised Craft of hairdressing.
With regard to training, the standard is bound to vary; but it is gratifying to report that the numbers taking the London City and Guilds examination is increasing each year.
There are good hairdressers in the provincial cities and towns; but I agree wholeheartedly with another writer in the Spectator who pointed out some time ago that neon lighting and contemporary decor is no guarantee of qualified service. Only Statutory Re- gistration, which is fast becoming a matter of public and press concern can, in time, eliminate many of the unsatisfactory features about which Miss Whitehorn complains.—Yours faithfully, FIAROLD S. BEARDOW Registrar The Hairdressers Registration Council, 39 Grafton Way, Tottenham Court Road, WI [Katharine Whitchorn writes : 'My apologies on my use of the word "register"—I did not mean register with the Council, but supposed—incorrectly —that hairdressers have some sort of licence from the Board of Trade. As to the progress made by the Hairdressers Registration Council, I cannot see that to have had one Bill rejected and another not even tabled implies any immediate hope of success, much as I sympathise with the Council's aims. I am sure if Registration comes, some sensible system of qualifications will have to be worked out; but Mr. Taylor Briggs of the National Hairdressers' Federa- tion told me himself that he saw no possibility of all the various hairdressing interests getting together. It is hard to see how they can, while half of them still refuse to recognise the way in which the other half are Ira in ed.'—Edito r, Spectator.]
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