"NOTHING DOING"

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 46, 7 August 1939, Page 6

"NOTHING DOING"

PAWNBROKER S REPLY NEW ZEALAND BANKNOTES Given a free meal, put off trams, turned away from a pawnshop—these were some of the adventures two New Zcalandcrs had in Sydney re. ccntlv, all because their New Zealand coins and hank notes were regarded with suspicion by the Australians. Mr T. Bansgrove New Plymouth, recounted his adventures to a Taranaki Herald reporter last week. IJe had plenty of Australian money, but a friend accompanying him did not. "When they arrived at Sydney the friend found that no one ivoukl change his New Zealand money or give him goods or services for it. An idea then struck him and he went into a pawnshop placed a New Zealand five pound note on the counter and said ''What will you give me on this?-' The pawnbroker's reply was brief, "Nothing doing.' The pair then went to an hotel for dinner, for which they offered NewZealand money in payment. This was refused and when it was pointed out by the New Zeal&nders that thev had had the meals and could not pay for them except in New Zealand currency the manager replied that he would rather give them the nieals than, take New Zealand money. FREE TRAM RIDE. The next action of the visitors was to jui;tp on a tram into the city. The far* was twopence' and one offered a New Zeaalnd threepenny bit and the other sixpence to the conductor. This was refused and they were unceremoniously put off the tram at the next. stop. They were not to be out. dene, however and by catching three successive trams and getting put off eacl- in turn they arrived at their destination. Mr Bansgrove said that another New Zealander he met ''nut it across the Australians'' with New Zea lan,d florins. He filed the kiwi and the words ''New Zealand"' down on the reverse side of the coins, which were then accepted as worn Austra* Han florins.