“I haven’t been inside a ladies beauty parlour as I haven’t much hair anyways.”
That was the comment from Delta council member Carl Liden back in March 1962, responding to a letter from Mrs. G Mageau, operator of the Kennedy Heights Beauty Parlour.
In an Optimist article with the headline “Balding councillor says he hadn’t been inside any beauty parlour recently,” Liden reportedly made the quip during a municipal council meeting where concerns raised by Mageau were discussed.
Coun. John Kirkland had asked whether hairdressers in private homes had proper sanitary facilities, prompting Liden to respond he didn’t know.
Mageau asked council about its practice of issuing business licenses to hairdressers in private homes.
She said she had contacted the Hairdressers Association and Liden, and both indicated they could not give her any support.
She asked if there was zoning in Delta to prevent the businesses, as she had to pay taxes and other expenses for her place, while the home operators did not.
They also did not abide by the shop closing hours bylaw, she claimed.
Liden said he agreed Mageau was suffering a hardship. He also noted one of the home hairdressers was operating in a garage with a large sign attached outside.
Coun. Harold Savage also thought it was unfair to allow the home hairdressers, but noted, “many women visit each other to wash, cut or perm each other’s hair.”
Savage added, “A man’s home is his castle and he can do what he likes in it.”
Council agreed to look into the issue.
