Ladder-bashing for Wizard

Press, 21 February 1986, Page 1

Ladder-bashing for Wizard

By

CATHERINE HARRIS

The Wizard lost his speaker’s ladder to the wrath of a religious passer-by yesterday. In one of their usual verbal battles, the Wizard made some blasphemous comments to tie Bible Lady which a young man nearby took offence at He confronted the Wizard, told him be was wicked and destined for Hell, and broke the arm rest on the ladder, according to an onlooker. “The Wizard turned the other cheek and said, ‘lf you’re a Christian, why are you using violence?” said another bystander, Mr Norman Taylor, of Australia. The young man left but returned about 10 minutes later and smashed the ladder, Mr Taylor said. He attempted to address the crowd but was booed while the Wizard, unperturbed, tried to auction pieces of the ladder as “holy relics.” Mr- Taylor had spent much of his week’s visit to Christchurch listening to the Wizard and was annoyed that such intolerance should be directed against him.

“The Wizard wants no followers and is not trying to seduce anyone — he just wants to amuse the crowd,” Mr Taylor said.

The auction failed to bring in funds for a new ladder but fortunately for the Wizard, a firm which specialises in aluminium ladders heard of his plight on radio and offered him a new one.

Mrs Dorothy Walker, of Walker Products, will present the ladder to the Wizard at 1 pan. today. Although he lamented the loss of his 16-year-old platform, the Wizard said he held no hard feelings towards his tormentor.

“I forgive them. They are only human. They can’t be perfect like me,” he said.