AUCKLANDER ABROAD

Northern Advocate, 9 April 1931, Page 2

AUCKLANDER ABROAD

SIDELIGHTS OX NEW YORK. j \ DEPORTED FROM THE STATES. (Special to “Xorthovn Advocate.”) AUCKLAND, This Day. A you nft’ Aucklamlo r who has just,' arrived back from New ork In n well-known steamer, tolls how ho ‘ ‘ hopped it’’ from n vossol in Now! York —otherwise i deserted his ship. j Ho had a considerable number of j dollars, and treated himself to the | sights of the’ city that, is guarded by the SI at no of Liberty. When he struck if, the industrial position was appalling. The. city’s unemployed registered well into a million. Yet, many of the picture palaces and theatres had queues. Externally there was no sign of depression. Motor ‘ears were everywhere, running day and night, and in the main avenues four streams of vehicles were moving 'continuously. Money was being spent lavishly, and the people, although they realised they were in a slump, were laughing and optimistic. The Aucklander soon came to the end of his capital, and found himself sleeping out in the dark zone—his sole wealth 25 cents. He was accosted by the inevitable policeman, and might have been “passed,” but hi| accent gave him away. “I guess, guy,” said the policeman, “you’d better come right along, and explain things to the boss,” The “boss”, put him through the first degree, and told him hq’d have do send him off to his own country, New ■Zealand. This meant a trip across the States. So the policeman, a raw-boned 6ft 7iu, Irishman, took him in charge. He explained to the Aucklander that he would travel first-class all the way by train. “I asked him who’was going to pay, and he ejaculated ‘Great 'Scot! You Britishers are always asking questions. I guess yon aren’t spilling the beans. I guess Noo Zeeland has got a Government. It ain’t your funeral. Here’s 10 bucks.’ ” . To the “Noo Zealander” this was a god-send, so he pocketed the money and soon found himself in a Pullman ear, accompanied by another policeman. His guard for the first day kept in close attendance, * and when his ■ prisoner remonstrated that there was no danger of his attempting to escape, the officer said: “Wal, I guess you’d be a darn fool, to try.” And from then on, the deportee was allowed to do as he wished. The passengers in the carriage were all wealthy westerners, returning to their homes. They were much interested when the Aucklander explained matters. A subscription was taken up, and the young New Zealander wms handed 20 more bucks, his guard contributing his quota. At ’Frisco his guard suggested: “Wal, I guess you’d better splash those bucks in ‘glad rags,’ If you, land on that ‘smoker’ just as you are, they’ll put you into the fo’c’slo for sure.” The young follow took the advice, and the superior knowledge of the New Yorker assisted him to buy a new and cheap outfit. He was escorted aboard the steamer, his guard farewelling him with: “I guess, ‘Mr Noo Zeeland’ you can tell

your people that we always deliver the goods. But, I say, guy, don’t try to get into this country by the back door.” “The last I saw of him,” isaid the Aucklander, “he was descending the gangway waving his li'Hnd and smoking a huge cigar.” The Aucklander says he is going to try the States again, but next time he will take the Yankee’s advice, and try to get in by the front door.