RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33068, 8 November 1972, Page 27

RANDOM REMINDER

OPPORTUNIST

Fortunately endowed is the person who has the happy faculty of being ready with a quick answer to any question directed to him. Even if, on occasions it doesn’t manage to turn away wrath. Salesmen, by and large, are not regarded as individuals who are behind play or ever stuck for a wheedling word or two. And real estate men, in particular it seems, are not exactly laconic. The impression is confirmed by the report reaching us from a resident of a small North Island coastal town, blessed with a sublime climate and showing early

evidence of rapid expansion. This embryonic city already boasts many amenities and flourishing business enterprises among which is numbered a one-man operated land agency — a man whom, our correspondent asserts, is really in the go-getter class. It appears that he was recently showing a newlyarrived couple a bungalow he had on his books. Wanning thoroughly to his work he extolled at length the virtues of the dwelling, its elevated outlook and landscaping possibilities. He went on to pop in a plug or two for the

thriving town, the subtropical nature of its climate and its scenic charms. His eloquence: knew no bounds. "Madam," he said, "this place is Paradise, that’s what it is. And the climate will cure anything. It’s impossible to even get sick here—let alone die.” It was at that exact moment that a long funeral cortege came in to view. The land agent’s Adam’s apple was seen to be working overtime. But only for a brief moment He shook his head sadly and solemnly exclaimed, "Poor old undertaker of ours. He just starved to death.”