TEN BARMAIDS APPLIED, MANY TELEPHONED; BUT NO JOB

Press, Volume C, Issue 29696, 14 December 1961, Page 16

TEN BARMAIDS APPLIED, MANY TELEPHONED; BUT NO JOB

“Good morning!” said a well - dressed, middle - aged woman to Mr T. C. Watson, licensee of the Southern Cross Hotel, yesterday. Mr Watson was just opening the bars in the hotel. It was five minutes to nine. “I have come about the job,” said the woman, brightly. “What job?” replied Mr Watson blankly. The job as a barmaid—l don’t want a barmaid. Don’t you get “The Press”? —Yes. Well, you are advertising for ,wo barmaids—l am not. Have you got today’s issue? —Yes. Well, look . . . There you are!—l did not put that advertisement in. The advertisement read: “Barmaids. Wanted, two barmaids with milk bar or counter experience. Award wages Apply in person—Mr or Mrs Watson, Southern Cross Hotel. Moorhouse avenue.” Mr Watson telephoned the advertising department of “The Press” immediately the applicant barmaid had pointed out the advertisement to him. He explained that neither he nor his wife, nor anyone with their authority had put the advertisement in The advertisement was telephoned between 5 p.m and 6 p.m. on Tuesday by a man calling himself Mr Watson. proprietor of the Southern Cross Hotel. The first applicant left the hotel after Mr Watson had explained the position. She was the first of 10 women who called at the hotel in the morning seeking a job as barmaid. During the morning Mr Watson received 30 telephone calls from women inquiring about the jobs. “In the afternoon the telephone ran almost hot with inquiries about the positions as barmaids. By that time I was not as hot as the telephone. nor as hot as I had been in the morning about it all.’ Mr Watson said last evening. “My wife knew nothing about the advertisement, of course, until I showed i* to her. Apart from the telephone calls from women wanting to be barmaids, I had plenty of calls from other licensees and

friends, and have received a real ribbing about it. “Then, I had to explain ‘the joke’ to my 10 barmen—in case they started to get anxious. From 4.30 p.m. I got plenty oi free advice from my customers. Some were in favour; some said they would not drink at the hotel if women were going to be in the bars; and a great many volunteered to form a selection committee to help me choose from among the applicants. “When I explained the situation my customers, one and all, thought it a great joke and. one and all, had more advice to offer.

i “All I can say is, that I can take a joke, and I have a good idea who the practical joker is. I have not considered employing a barmaid yet, but I feel that the time ■ will come soon when bar- : maids are accepted and apI preciated by drinkers in all ■ hotels. ; “A lot of people are always : saying. There is nothing in i the paper today.’ If that is > right, today has taught me : that an awful lot of people read nothing; and that there ■ are a great many women 1 wanting to be barmaids.” ■ "The Press” has taken pre- ■ cautions to see that the joke is not repeated.