CLAIM AGAINST A HAIR SPECIALIST

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 16, 14 October 1926, Page 12

CLAIM AGAINST A HAIR SPECIALIST

CASE FOR DONNELLY AND SONS DEFENDANT GIVES EVIDENCE SAYS HE OFFERED TO RETURN DEPOSIT The hearing of a claim by Mabel Burton against Donnelly and bon, hair specialists, of Wellington, for <£l4B, made up of a deposit of <£so for a course ot instruction, and loss of time and wages, was continued before Mr. E. Page, b.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday afternoon, when further evidence for the defence was given. Mr. J. O’Donovan appeared ior the plaintiff, while the defendants were represented by Mr. A. T. Young. , On Monday plaintiff stated that she had been working at the defendant s salon tor four mon'hs without 'earning hardly a thing. The result was that, after she was discharged, she had to leave another hairdressing firm because she had not had sufficient teaching to enable her to carry on in her employer s absence. ~ , , , , Elizabeth Ann Donnelly stated that what the plaintiff said was untrue, the latter had been giveb every opportunity to learn, and as far as she knew had been properly taught the trade by herself (witness), her brother, and the other assistants employed. In the witness box yesterday James William Francis Donnelly also denied the story as told by plaintiff. Witness stated that when they left their saloon in Vivian Street—to open up business in Cuba Street —they did so with the intention of turning the former into a college ot instruction for beginners. The college, however, had not been started. , ~ , ~ . _ Donnelly stated that. Miss Burton camo to see him regarding her entry into the business as a pupil. lhe latter said she would like to have an agreement made before commencing. “My lawyer was ■in Sydney at the tinie,” went on witness, ‘and 1 told her so. However, I made up a draft, but 1 am uot quite sure whether 1 signed it or not. About a week before Miso Burton commenced training, a. Mr. Doug (as joined up as a pupil under similar conditions as the plaintiff. He and Miss Burton both had equal chances to learn. When it was found that the Vivian Streel salon would not be turned into a college, Donnelly acquainted Miss Burton with the fact, and told her it she liked she could either come and learn at the Cuba Street place or have ner £5O deposit returned. Another alternative was an offer of 30s. a week to the plaintiff on the understanding she would start as an apprentice with us. in (his case also she was offered her .£5O back. , . ~ , Mr. Young: Miss Burton denies that at anv time you ever offered to return the £50.-“Well. that’s wrong, because I did. When Miss Burton was at the salon she was taught how to cut hair and do other things, at the conclusion of which witness gave her the finishing touches of how to buster, hob, shingle and fringe. To start with, the plaintiff was very slow at picking up .the work, but towards the finish she was decidedly good. She could shingle, wave, shampoo and singe, with the . result that when she left she could turn out a first-class job. As a matter of fact several people bad come back and asked for plaintiff to work on them. To say that Miss Burton had never been taught to shampoo was rot, absolute tommy rot! Why, I taught her myself," exclaimed witness, “and she had several lessons. Witness said he gave Miss Burton instruction several times on how to use the face massage, oven going so far ns to massage her himself. Miss Burton was also taught how to weave hair and how to make switches. In fact, she was taught almost everything she could be taught by them. It was absurd for plaintiff to say that she had gone straight into cubicles and worked on customers without any instructions as to what to do. “If we acted tike that.” said witness, “we would lose our customers instead of keeping them.” "She could have been with us now if she had liked,” lie went on, “but she wanted to go to the country, so I ol>tained her a position at Otaki."

Defendant Cross-Examined. Mr. O’Dcnovaii: You, mean to say that she is a fully’ capable hair specialist?— “Yes.” You describe yourself as a graduate of the University of California?■ —“Yes.” What subject did you take?—“Dermatology.” You have a diploma, have you?— “Yes.” Gained at this University?—"Yes.” What is the value of it? They are usually £1 each, aren’t they? (Laughter.)—“l can’t quite tell you that.” Well, did you pay for it?—“We don’t pay anything for them. It’s a kind of registration.” Mr. O’Donovan (in surprise): A registration .'—“Yes, but I had to take degrees and all that.” What degrees r—" All the degrees of the University. 1 was there twelve months." Yes, but where’s vour diploma? It was said rather triumphantly by your counsel yesterday that vou were tno only man in New Zealand to have one.— “No, 1 haven't got an actual diploma. Wo don’t call (hem diplomas in America. Nobody in America knows what a diploma is.” Well, have you got any degrees?—“l took them at the University.” Have you got any certificates setting out your degrees?—"l never.took copies of them.” Look here, Mr. Donnelly,, you come to this Court, boomed as the only diplomned man in New Zealand! Have vou any evidence regarding these alleged certificates, diplomas, or degrees? If so, why don’t yon produce (hem for the Court to nee?—’’The degrees I took arc in my work—they are my work. I could not frame them and put them on the wall, because they are my work.” Was this institution a private, school: —“lt was run in conjugation with the University.” And it gave no certificates or no diploma—a wonderful institution, surelw —“I tell vou I got certificates, but — Well, where are they?- "Well, I had it 1 don't know where it is now. I lost all my belongings in Panama—up Newport News way. Professoi Robertson, tho old man who taught me, is now Boiled down. then, after this great University training wo have only your word as to your diploma.—’ Lnfortunflfnlv VOS. ■ Would you mind telling us when you took it?—“IMS.” tt-t; How long lid you take to get it. "Eighteen months altogether, <nlv the last six months was only at night. What does tho subject you took comprise?—"lt's dermatology.” 1 What’s that?—“Diseases of the skin and all the troubles cf the head. see! And that turned you into a hair specialist ?—“That’s a part of it. What else did you learn?— Hiats the whole course.” . ~ , And it took you eighteen months to get it’-“Twelve months full hme. Witness wont on to say that with the advent of short hair the course ho had learned was not as useful as it was under the long hair vogue. Air. O'Donovan: What do you reckon (lien that vour qualifications are at tho present time?—“ln the work to-day.one of the nminstavs of the business is cutting There is no wig-making or anything like that. The business is transformed. , ~ , . You haven’t answered my question! But at any rate you make it plain that you are nothing more or less than a harbor! , ~ Witness (haughtily): Oh, no. I m a Indies' hairdresser. There’s a difference. I storied cutting hair when I was only twelve years of age. How'did your college scheme come

to fall through, Mr. Donnelly?— I could see that it was going to be too much of a tax on me to give attention to the college and the Cuba Street shop at the same time.” _ . I think about this time Miss Burton was pressing you about ’he colleger— And you then had her £so?—“Wait a minute, I’m not so sure. If Miss Burton, however, has sworn that she paid mo at that date I will not deny it.” Miss Burton says that you taught her hardly a thing.—“Oh, that’s Tommy Do vou say she is a liar?—"What she said bn Tuesday was decidedly untrue. Donnelly went on to state that theirs was a very big business, and as many as 800 to 1000 clients were treated a week. , ... The Magistrate: Will you swear that vou offered to return the plaintiff back her <£so?—“l will, sir, absolutely.” You would make her an apprentice then p—“ Yes, at 30s. a week, but she would not take it.” Donnelly said that Miss Burton had done work for which .£3O Is. had been paid by the customers. Instead of giving her all that sum he had deducted .£25. which was the balance she should have paid to learn a month after she commenced with the firm. He gave her a cheque for £G instead of the <£3l, with which she was quite satisfied. The ease was then adjourned until 10.30 a.m. on Monday.