Random reminder

Press, 15 April 1980, Page 39

Random reminder

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

This story is supposed to be true. We doubt that. Perhaps it belongs to that higher order of truth which only good fiction is. He is employed by the Ministry of Works and Development and, among other responsibilities, looks after a corrugated iron shed containing picks equipment. When he was doing hs annual stock taking he discovered a crowbar was missing, so he wrote to his regional office, which duly passed he information on to the might and majesty of head office in Wellington. Then the trouble began. He received a letter that ./'thanks you for your report but must : point out that a specific form is provided for reporting missing property.” He secured copies' of form AJ23/5 from his regional office, filled them in, and posted them off. He duly received a letter that "thanks you for .furnishing copies of form AJ23/5 but points out that the

correct-form is AJ23/95, and awaits receipt of same.” . He then filled in form AJ23/95 and posted it off. He duly received a letter that “thanks you for furnishing copies of form AJ23/95 but regrets they have been filled in, incorrectly,, and encloses correctly filled: in forms for your guidance .when correcting-the matter.” He sent off the right form correctly filled in. He duly received a letter that “thanks you for filling in the correct form correctly, but must point out that it was required in quadruplicate whereas you furnished two . copies ■ only, and hopes you can furnish two further copies.” This he did. About .six months had gone by, but it seemed that head office hadaccepted • his report on the disappearance of the 1 crowbar.‘ What" no-one fat head office had done, during all. this, time and bother, was query the reason- he gave for the crowbar’s disappearance. He said it had been eaten-by termites.