TONSORIAL ART IN WELLINGTON

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 86, 5 January 1935, Page 13

TONSORIAL ART IN WELLINGTON

Criticism Highly Resented

“AS GOOD AS ANYWHERE IN WORLD”

The reflections cast on the tonsorial art of Wellington by a correspondent in yesterday’s issue of “The Dominion -was read with interest by most of the hairdressers of the city and, in a few cases, where it was not ignored as merely an attempt to be witty, it was strongly resented, according to inquiries made by a reporter. n The correspondent, “Strewelpeter,

gaid he had travelled over most parts of the world, and was slowly coming to the belief that the standard of tonsorial art in Wellington was only slightly better than that of Vladivostock. Dealing with the points made by “Strewelpeter” in turn, one city hairdresser replied:— “We have the ‘Bulletin’ in our shop, but when customers come in we hop up quickly with a ‘Yes, sir, you’re next Our motto is,‘Please the customer; not the boss.’ There are some inconsiderate people who come into the shop a minute or so before closing time, bui even in those cases, though we think a mighty lot. we never say anything. The average time to do a good haircut is 10 minutes, and with an efficient hand that is quite sufficient.” "No Dirty Cotton or Flies.” (2) “In my shop no customer has to wade through a week’s accumulation of hair clippings and dirty cotton wool. The shop, like the great majority of shops in Wellington, is kept clean and swept after every job. Clean cotton wool is used for every job. And there are no flies in my shop. The floor is always kept: clean. “If we know a customer we know exactly what he wants, and get on with the job.' If not, we ask him how he wants his hair done, and whether or not he wants a little off the top. The customer’s hair is cut just exactly as jjQ directs. “We always brush a customer’s hair after finishing, but there is always a certain small amount left in the head which it is impossible to get out immediately. . We guarantee that any man coming into the shop goes out looking smarter than before. “If ‘Strewelpeter’ commonly goes into hairdressers’ shops feeling bilious, he ought really to be going to the doctor’s instead. Men coming into our shop get a good haircut. We have regular customers who have been coming here for years, so satisfied are they with the work we do. And I think that most people’will agree that the ordinary hairdresser’s shop is very far removed from a place to-give one the blues.” "Faster, Better, Cheaper.” Another hairdresser firmly insisted that the standard of tonsorial art in Wellington was every bit as good as it is in Auckland, or any other part of New Zealand, for that matter. “A widely travelled American came into the shop the other day, and he said that he got a faster, better and cheaper haircut here than in the United States. . There they have a number of fancy touches, but they all cost extra.” The following letters to The Editor of “The Dominion” have been received on the subject:— A Barber Hits Back Sir, —“Strewelpeter” says he approached several people to find out where he could get a haircut. What’s wrong with the barbers’ poles? Have they lost their red, white, and blue? He asks for someone to help him. If “Strewelpeter” comes along to' my shop I will cut his hair every day, not every ten days. There are no “Bulletins,” accumulations of hair clippings, cotton wool, or flies to contend with. I will cut his hair on these conditions: —That he give proper instructions and not cough in my face, as if he is suffering from the blues they might be ■ contagious; that he take disinfectant lozenges before being operated on ; that he have a bath every day (instead of every 10 days), and use a strong disinfectant to give me a fair chance to get near him. I guarantee he would like to come out smarter than he went in.; in this, case he certainly would be a bit. cleaner if not smarter. As regards spoiling his type of beauty, I would recommend him to have two permanent waves, one on the head and one in the bath. “Strewelpeter” is ignorant of the fact that all hairdressing establishments are licensed, and are inspected regularly by . officers of the Health Department in Wellington.—l am, etc., DISGUSTED HAIRDRESSER. Wellington, January 4. “Sheer Tosh” Sir, —Your correspondent “Strewelpeter” must have been very unfortunate in the hairdresser’s shop he struck on his arrival in Wellington. It is sheer tosh for people to say they have to go to Auckland to get a decent haircut. I have worked in both cities and I know that the attention in the capital city is every bit as good as it is in the north. I do not know anything about Vladivostock. but I do know .from overseas visitors to Wellington, that the service we hairdressers give here is, for the price, as good as anything else in the world. In other places one rpay have all sorts of frills added, but a world-wide traveller as “Strewelpeter” claims he is must know that they are not all thrown in for one and threepence. Also, if “Strewelpeter” does not want his hair cut in what happens to be the mode of the moment he should say so and he would fipd his wishes carried out exactly. I am, pfc.. HUTT HAIRDRESSER. January 4. “Unjustifiable Attack” Sir, —I notice that in this morning’s edition of your much-read newspaper a correspondent, “Strewelpeter ” makes a violent attack on the hairdressers of Wellington. lam not a hairdresser, but for 25 years past I have been a regular customer of one of the leading hairdressing establishments of this city, and I feel I must reply to his grotesque and unjustifiable attack. I have always always received courtesy and civility, and perhaps what is more important, the very best attention, and his suggestion that to get a good haircut one has to go to Auckland is too ridiculous for words. Of course, there are hairdressers and hairdressers, just as there are all sorts of world travellers who come hero to pick holes in everything in New Zealand, but I can say that on the whole the trade in Wellington will bear comparison with the best anywhere else in. hew Zealand. If “Strewelpeter” will stick to facts and regard a fair thing as a fair »bing be will publicly recant his unwarranted slight on a profession held in the highest esteem. —I am, etC;, JUST A CUSTOMER. Kelbnrn, January 4.