The Inside Story Luck That Passeth All Understanding

Northern Advocate, 11 May 1940, Page 11

The Inside Story Luck That Passeth All Understanding

doubt there seems to be more than an atom of truth in the old adage that it is better to be born lucky than rich. The chairman of the North Auckland Electric Power Board should be an authority on the subject by this time, for on Thursday, for the second year in succession, the slip of paper bearing his name was withdrawn from the hat. This method of selecting a chairman, while hardly unique, was made necessary on both occasions by the fact that board members were equally divided in choice between two candidates. * ft ft ft "gUT the sleuth learns that while the retention of his scat has given the chairman reason for joy to be unconfined, there was corresponding lack of jubilation among his rivals. It is no secret among power board members themselves that more than one of their number, previously, at least, cherished the‘idea of election 1o the chairmanship. * ti ft ft ■\TTHILE members watched with inv terest' far exceeding that usually evinced, even by an efficient board, the fatal slip was withdrawn and the result announced amid cheers and the advice of one of the successful voters that the chairman should take, a ticket in a sweepstake consultation now closed to New Zealand aspirants for fortunes in wordly goods. * * * m T UCK plays no small part in the J conduct of public affairs, in so far as it concerns members, and when

i sleuthing for the benefit of readers has been far from mind, it has often I been thrust before notice. ft ft * * JUST when to open up and when to keep shut is a fascinating pastime in whicn public body members have the privilege of indulging, but there is not an overwhelming majority which plays the game correctly. While some attend meetings with their facial apertures ready for action others. with grim mien befitting the weighty considerations with which they are concerned, give indications that their jaws will open under only the greatest pressure. Others again have the happy faculty of supplying a fund of humour in commentary on things in general or their fellow members in particular, but all must bow to the lady of fortune. * * * * J-HE taciturn gentlemen may suddenly find themselves driven from their cloak of silence at most inopportune times, while those subject to verbosity discover that their meanderings have described a complete circle and then gone off at a tangent beset with pitfalls aiding the opposition. * ,ft ft * A LL have their moments of luck and ill-luck but few can match that which the power board chairman takes to the board-room. Lady Luck was duly toasted and this seeker after evidence and fortune only hopes that more contact in the room of the brass rail will have meant acquisition of some of the magic element.