Reporter’s diary

Press, 14 July 1987, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

Bureaucrazy? IT is uncustomary for readers to shower journalists with munificence. However, Michael K. Penrose is a happy exception — he has sent us the cheque he received for his tax refund. He explained that he had sent in his tax “to be worked out,” expecting a refund. Which is exactly what he got, although he doubted whether the result of 75 cents was worth the trouble, time, or postage. He is contemplating framing the cheque to hang on his lounge wall as a monument to the Inland Revenue Department. Hard bargain HENRY Kissinger, a devastatingly effective diplomatic negotiator, is pretty nifty when it comes to negotiating financial deals. A speech by the former United States Secretary of- State costs, for example, $U522,500. The other day, however, he addressed a New York law firm for a mere

$U517,500. A partner in the firm is one of Kissinger’s inner circle of friends and Dr K. explained: “For a friend, I am prepared to discount.” Finders not keepers FOR a rare event, consider this story about an overseas student who was •not robbed while visiting Christchurch last week. He lost his wallet near a coffee shop in the Triangle Centre. The fate of the $2OO tucked inside seemed a foregone conclusion, but he reported the loss anyway. Later the same day the wallet and contents were handed in by an elderly finder, who was duly presented with a profusion of thanks and flowers by the relieved student. A warm thought for a wintry day. No love lost FROM the pets columns of the “Pulman News,” Lyme Regis, Britain: “Eccentric home wanted for aggressively unsocial

ginger tom (neutered). Answers to the name of Misery Guts.” Snow business THE Christchurch Y.M.C.A. will be keeping its fingers crossed and winter woollies on in expectation of a decent dollop of snow for the “Snow experience” week-end on July 25 and 26. The two days are for children aged from nine to 13, and activities include “plastic bagging,” making snowmen, walks, games, and a day’s skiing at Mount Hutt. Anxious parents are reassured that the weekend is suitable for children who have never skied, and includes ski hire and a ski lesson. Information and enrolment forms are available from the Y.M.C.A., 12 Hereford Street, or telephone 60-689. Take note JUNE was traditionally the merry month of driving licence renewal — until that system was scrapped last May. Does

this explain why the Ministry of Transport has had a rash of inquiries from well-trained citizens who find it hard to understand why their licences do not have to be renewed until their seventy-first birthday? If they are travelling overseas they will need to put a sticker ($4.40, including GST) in the licence to explain the new system. Cheap pearls A COPY of “The Dictionary of Australian Quotations” was bought for a mere $6 in Christchurch yesterday. Ignoring snide suggestions as to why it was so reduced, here is a sample of the content. It is a quotation from Bob Hawke, made when he first entered Parliament in 1979: "Well, I don’t want to be any more egotistical than possible. I have total confidence in my ability.” For the sceptical, the dictionary in fact is quite large — a total of 446 pages. —Jenny Feltham