RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32354, 21 July 1970, Page 20

RANDOM REMINDER

HANDS ACROSS THE SEA

There’s* no doubt about the dinkum Kiwi. Somewhere behind that racing guide and eight-ounce glass, there beats a heart of gold. The way they look after each other, and help out when help is needed . . . A Christchurch profes' sional man went away to Australia a little while ago with an invited touring party. So one of his Christchurch friends invited the absentee’s wife to dine with his family on a Saturday evening. His hospitality did not end with a splendid meal and some splendid draughts of wine. He insisted, about midnight, that he should ring the tourist, then in Canberra, so that husband and wife could have a cosy little chat.

When its midnight here, its 10 p.m. over there; and the visitor to Australia was

at that time dining with his party at an establishment named, not without proper cause and reason, the Bacchus Restaurant. As he sat at table, the maitre d’hotel, if you can have one of those at a restaurant approached, in his splendid tails and white tie, to call him to the telephone. The conversation was opened by the Christchurch host, who, a little carried away by the occasion, ran himself up a tidy toll bill before handing the telephone over to the tourist’s wife. And that, it seemed was that. But at midnight (over there) the New Zealander was called to the telephone again. The operator announced another call from New Zealand. This was a puzzle for the tourist because it seemed to him that on the home front the limits of hospitality had already been reached. But there was a familiar

voice—not the one of the first caller—to ask him a little about Canberra and how was he enjoying his meal at the Bacchus. He answered these queries politely, without having an opportunity to discover the identity of the caller, because he knew the voice and felt he should not need to ask for the name

But when the caller told him to get back to his Chicken Maryland or whatever it was, all was revealed. One of his party, having had ample time to eat a meal while out travelling was on the telephone had completed his repast, gone back to the party’s hotel and organised the restaurant receptionist into simulating another New Zealand call. The practical joker will get his, in time: probably on his next overseas trip. A call from New Zealand —collect.