Don't Judge By Appearances

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 226, 24 September 1938, Page 6 (Supplement)

Don't Judge By Appearances

In The Country By MES.

WIN the backblocks/* said the 1 member of Parliament, warming to confidences, as one does on a long drive over difficult roads, "the personal touch is everything. You ve got to be able to size up your man, to know and understand people. "I suppose," ventured the driver, eyes intent on a corner where a recent slip had narrowed the road to a mem track, "that applies in town as well as country. That's the worst of your jobj you've got to know people." His tone Inferred that personally he preferred be*sts. "But not to the same extent," his mentor told him. "In the backblocks you're supposed to know everybody individually, not to make mistakes. Then you must be able to grasp a man s character and standing at once; theres a man who votes as his father did, there's the one who'll give you his sapport if you'll guarantee him good prices. . • "And good roads," finished the driver drily, as his car came gently to rest, after an incredible skid, in the water table. He got out and surveyed the situation ruefully. Country M.P. s ought to be able to ride; this was no road for a car. He took the spade that he always carried in winter and set to work, trusting that his passenger was laying to heart the first need of the backblocks settler. The member took off his coat and worked, too, using a slasher very creditably to cut fern, and laying it under the tyres to help their grip. But half an hour's navvying had not greatly improved their position, and it was with relief that they saw a figure approaching; so disreputable ,was it that, had the man not been riding one draught horse and leading another, they would have taken him for a swagger of the old school. His clothes would have disgraced a scarecrow and his appearance would have been greatly improved by a shave; but to the struggling motorists he seemed an angel from heaven. Politics and a Florin He surveyed their plight In complete silence, grunted once in answer to the driver's explanation of the accident, hitched the horses' chains to the axle, said, "Ortop then, Roger; oop Blossom," and, as the-igh by a miracle, the problem was solved. The M.P. was voluble in gratitude and passed easily to politics. The farmer gave an occasional laconic nod, scratched his head once or twice, looked into the distance and drew heavily on hin disreputable blavk pipe. It was not fiuitful ground and eventually the electioneer gave it up in despair, with a final exhortation to "come to my meeting this evening and bring the wife." As they parted he pressed a florin into the other's reluctant hand; "Nonsense, my good man, nonsense. You must have a drink or two on me at the nearest pub"; they left their rescuer gazing at the florin in his hand as if he had never seen one before.

"Poor chap," commented the M.P.; "seldom enough he sees any money, I'll bet. That's a real cocky, hardly an idea, not a word to say. But hell enjoy that drink—and he'll enjoy telling his mates ha waa shouted by the member

for the district. Seems silly, of course," he concluded a trifle self-consciously, "but these ignorant people seem to think there's something important about being a member of Parliament." The driver agreed that it was very silly. At last they reached a primitive building that was dignified by the name of hotel; it was at dinner in its dark little dining room that the M.P. made his second contact. The man whs sitting alone at a table when they entered, and the politician, assuming that air of easy camaraderie that is supposed to be so popular in the backblocks, immediately took the opposite chair and, across the dingy tablecloth and cracked dinner ware, fell into breezy conversation about the trip, the weather, facial eczema and the evil deeds of the party opposed to his own. The elector responded to it with ease and volubility very different from the bucolic taciturnity of their last encounter. His appearance, too, was decidedly more civilised, for his suit was well pressed, his hands clean and care-

fully tended, hi* chin liko t field at harvest home." * ItntiTSi foeman more worthy of tie steel. * mm[ - The natural result was that ber for the district expanded. that touch of patronage, talking down to the level of which had impressed his previous conversation. Now the was on his mettle, conscknH vote was more valuable **»»n th» because of the weight it woeM in the district; yes, it would bea in his cap if he won this appeared to do so, for they p—2* best of friend® and the visitor JS beaming as the car drew off. -5? personal touch again?" queried 2* driver a little cynically. «X)f was the confident reply. That worth catching. A very intelligent fa? You see the brand of a good there and catch an of authority. Evidently an labour on quite a large scale. a modest chap, toe; -wouldn't «e0 m much about himself—but I tlmA- r ZT him in the end." ™ The Meeting They did not arrive at the hall for meeting until almost the appointedhon. for there had been varioiw advents** and delays on the way and the Meter psychologist had done a good dial «f subtle electioneering in the highways and hedges. It was a very good attendance, considering the scattered nature of tfe district; but it was not the right of this muster of his constituents tint made the M.P. stop abruptly at the door and give a startled gasp. It was tie bland and imposing personage advanced to meet hi™ across the ikt. form.

Well-tailored, newly shaved, and faintly amused—it was yet the fats of the "typical cocky" who had f«m to their aid earlier in the day. Xh chairman of his committee hnrrieg forward, with an eager greeting, hot tfe politician's eyes were still fixed on t!* man behind, and in them there «n embarraasnlent and a plea for merer; His chairman spoke effusively, *1 you've met Colonel X; he's one of our big land owners about here, and a good man for our party." The two Apnk hands. "That was an excellent drink you shouted me," said the colonel witk a twinkle in his eyes. "By the way, I promised the publican to" give yon* 4 message. It appears, that the" 1~,l ne'er-do-well—a very likeable rhepnhm we call Gentleman Jim—was your eoatpanion at lunch. He took advantage of the occasion to order a good many fchv, during the afternoon, for which hs assured the pnblican yon had offered to be responsible; also he stated that he was your guest at lunch. I told A tkat he need not worry about that; I hcv you to be the soul of generosity." Tke MJ*. was still swallowing hard whea kit chairman broke in: "Jimmy! Now, kn't that just like hirn. He got a diwuf oat of your opponent last week, and from the independent candidate the week before. A hard case, our friend Jimmr."

The psychologist managed to avoid tto eye of his friend the chauffeur, bnfc when he arose to speak ten minutes later that laconic gentleman was p>—to observe that he was still blushing.