RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33154, 19 February 1973, Page 17

RANDOM REMINDER

WORDS

Success in business can be measured in part by the friends one makes while one is making a living. It is often necessary for heads of commercial enterprises to entertain overseas visitors in the same or an allied line. But as a rule, the friendships which develop are genuine, and not merely a sketched-in background for business deals. A Christchurch businessman had a very important visitor recently, a very large Texan, with a very loud Texan drawl. They got along famously, and the Christchurch man did his best to make the American’s stay a pleasant one. His efforts were appreciated, and a few days after the Texan had

departed, there was a letter from him. He thanked his Christchurch host for what he had done for the visitor and his business associates, and he made particular reference to a round of golf at Shirley arranged by the Christchurch man, who is a member there but did not play on this particular day. The very large Texan could, it should be made clear, be easily heard over an area of at least a couple of fairways. And he admitted in his letter that he was anything but skilful as a golfer, and that his partner had not played for months. They were overtaken on the third tee by a lone player, and they asked if he would join them, the invitation being

accepted. Progress on the third, fourth and fifth holes was, evidently, anything but satisfactory for the Americans, and they expressed their displeasure with the course of events with some loud and lurid language. And this, on women’s day ... By the fifth green, the newcomer to the group clearly felt that some action was required of him. He put it very well. “Gentlemen” he said. “I believe I should introduce myself fully before we go any further.” And he then explained that he held a very high position in the Church of England, in Christchurch. It worked, beautifully. From that point, decorum was the name of the game.