HARD TIMES RECALLED.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 135, 9 June 1926, Page 11

HARD TIMES RECALLED.

MR. DAVID LUNCH

The death of Mr. David Goldie has brought to remembrance a characteristic story told of him when he was first elected for City West in 1879. Instead of travelling by steamer direct to Wellington, a3 was the custom in those days, the Hon. Scotland, who was also on hie way to Wellington, persuaded Mr. Goldie to get off the steamer at the roadstead in New Plymouth, and travel by coach down the coast as far as Wanganui, to have a look at the country, and to pay a Tisit of inspection to the Government relief works, which were going on in Southern Taranaki. Single men were getting 2/6 per day, and married men 3/4 per day, plus rations. Things were very bad in New Zealand at the time, and economy was the order of the day.

It was customary in those days for one publican to wire in advance to his fellow publicans when he knew that any special personages were aboard the coach, so that a suitable meal could be arranged as the coach passed through the different towns. When the Hon. Scotland and Mr. Goldis got off at Patea, it was expected that they would immediately enter the iiotel and enjoy the good things provided for them, but they were both of an economical turn of mind, and said it was no time to go in for expensive living.

Asking the way , to the nearest baker's shop, they found that when they got there the baker was just turning out a beautifully browned tray of Abernethy biscuite. This suited them spendidly, and both asking for a cup of water, the two legislators enjoyed a mid-day meal at the cost of threepence each, because three of the old-faehioned Abernethy biscuits were quite a meal, and were sold at a penny each. Sir William Fox and Sir Harry Atkinson were statesmen who werp"al«n known to practise the same economies, and both the Hon. Scotland and Mr. GoMie were applauded in many quarters for their prudence.