Mr. Ernest Petty’s Story

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 47, 25 February 1938, Page 6

Mr. Ernest Petty’s Story

Sir, —“Anti-Humbug” is pleased to quote against me Mark Twain as saying a correspondent when secretary to a senator, 1 ‘Venerable fossil, write again, we’re always pleased to hear you chirp. ” I reciprocate with this story of Mark Twain who, when travelling abroad to broaden his vision, visited the catacombs of Borne. A practical joker wished to surprise Mark as he gazed upon the “fossil-like mummy” of Columbus, so in the dim light he was duly camouflaged in death-liko appearance. When the guide and Mark approached and all the famous exploits of the great navigator—the discovery of the New World—wero being recounted —the fos-sil-like mummy turned over and “chirped.” Mark Twain showed no consternation, but calmly remarked, “Wal, friend, America is first at the Resurrection.” Now Sir, in this our ‘‘new world” or resurrection of political, economic and social uplift New Zealand IS first. The old economic order has passed. The banking experts admit we are right. The changed and new world is around us. All is in contradistinction to the Nationalist Party’s decadent senility of the depression. I, as one who has woken up, appreciate “Anti-Humbug’s” admission that “he is always pleased to hear me chirp” about the wonders of the “new world” that Labour discovered for New Zealand in 1935. Furthermore I guess and calculate “Anti-Humbug” has benefited very much, too, but beggarly bias prevents him from admitting it.—l am, etc., ERNEST PETTY. Feilding, February 24, 1938.