APPOINTING A CARETAKER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1045, 19 September 1911, Page 2

APPOINTING A CARETAKER.

Apparently it is a very simple matter to run a moving picture machine, as out of fifteen applications received at last night’s Council meeting for the position of caretaker of the Coronation Hall and operator in connection with the Council’s moving picture practically the whole of the plicants were confident that they would be able to manage the machine, although, with one exeption, they had had absolutely no previous experience. One or two were modest enough to state that they were capable of carrying out the ordinary duties which devolve on a caretaker of a hall, but would not guarantee to be able to undertake the work of operating a moving picture plant, but modesty was not one of the virtues of the majority of those who applied for the position. Summed up the contents of most of the letters were : "I haven’t had any experience of running a picture show, but I know I can do it alright.” The wages asked for carrying out the duties ranged from ios per week to per month. One applicant stated that he had recently Y come out to this country with a letter of introduction to Lord Islington, another forwarded testimonials as to his willingness to work from two M’s.P., and the Mayor of one of our leading cities ; a Member of Parliament in a testimonial to one of the applicants stated that the holder had been a member of one of the New Zealand contingents in the South African war and after returning to New Zealand had married and was now the father of four children ; yet another applicant stated that although he bad had no experience of a moving picture machine he felt confident that, with one or two lessons, he would make a thoroughly competent operator, as he was very quick at adapting himself to any new kind of work, and as an instance of this he stated that he recently went to work in a boot factory and although he had never worked a similar machine, in a very short space of time he was able to earn the maxing mum wages paid to operatives for that class of work. The following are some of the occupations of the applicants : Steward on coastal vessels and Home liners, conductor on city tramway, steward at gentlemen’s club, caretaker of library, commercial traveller, motor car driver, assistant night watchman, etc. After consideration the Council decided to appoint the applicant who had had previous experience in the art of running a picture plant.