RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31166, 16 September 1966, Page 22

RANDOM REMINDER

PINT POT

He is a big man, more or less at the top of his particular tree, and he is well known throughout New Zealand. He is also a big man, physically: that is partly why this information was passed our way. Very often, he spends considerable periods away from home, but like most families, there are cunning stratagems designed to give access to hearth and home to weary returning travellers—the key goes under the third white stone from the left, or, after a change in code at midnight on the 31st, beneath the mat at the back door. But on this occasion, the man came home and found he had been locked out. He left no stone unturned

.... but the key was not there. It was obvious his oldest son was off into town with the key. So he had to set off for his son's place of employment, which was a considerable distance away. There he found the lad was not at work: he was on the night shift, and if he was not at home, it could only mean he was staying with friends. So it was back again, and the necessity to break and enter. An unlatched window seemed to offer reasonable access. The obvious occurred, as it often does. His considerable bulk was thrust only half-way through the aperture before it became firmly stuck. Now no matter how eminent a man may be, it is not easy for him to retain his dignity

when half-way through » window, and tnung to explain to a policeman who happened to chance by that he really was the owner of the house. But he was a sympathetic policeman, and even from his vantage point he ultimately recognised the householder. A large issue boot, placed firmly in the most useful place, and then extended swiftly, shot the householder through the window with rather more rapidity than is sometimes achieved from the launching pad at Cape Kennedy. He had not had time to pick up the broken coffee table or start counting the deep gouges on the television set before a small boy raced up on a bicycle. The younger son. With the key.