Queue Manners

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 265, 5 August 1937, Page 5

Queue Manners

Fumbling and Stupidity Can Waste Hours if Time

T STOOD behind a disobedient form filler in the queue, and missed an appointment in consequence. Disobedient form-fillers can lose more of other people’s time in a bank than anywhere else.

They are the people who fill in official forms without reading the instructions, without looking on the other side, or simply without using their intelligence at all. They are forevei being shown dotted lines by shorttempered officials. Nearly as bad are the tumblers. Thcj can be either masculine or feminine. If masculine, they must search through all their pockets for tickets or money or forms; if feminine they have to remove a lipstick, a handkerchief, several receipted bills, a flapjack and sundries, before (hey reach what they want. But whatever their sex they always stand firmlv in front of tire counter so that others cannot step past them. Disobedient form-fillers are generally sent away to rewrite their tasks.

Polite fumblers follow the same principle in moving aside and letting others reach the counter without delay. Another danger in a queue is the Can I. a curious bird which rests its ■two elbows on the counter, leans forward confidentially to the official and murmurs, “Can I draw out all my money and still keep an account open?” “Can I buy stamps at this counter?” On railway stations they ask, “Can I get a cheap return and still break the journey?” “Can I use a transferable ticket at any time?” Questions may go on for as long as ten minutes if you are unluckily behind the Can I. Compared with the Can I. the cash fumbler who never has his money ready is no trouble at all.

Disobedient form-filler, fumbler. Can I or cash fumbler. Which are yon? —II.G.