Minister’s Joke

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 19 May 1941, Page 4

Minister’s Joke

The Minister for Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb, is notably a man who is not averse to playing a practical joke cr two on members of the Government departments (says the “Express”). When he was in Blenheim last week he was feeling in a particularly jocular mood, and he gave vent to it by “putting a fast one over” one of the employees in the Social Security Department. Going in to the office, with his hat well down over his eyes, he asked first of all if a job could be found for him. He was told that possibly he could be employed on a farm. Then he inquired if he could get a meal, and offered to pawn his watch, only to learn that there was no pawnbroker in the town, but that if he went round to the Hospital Board no doubt he would be provided with the wherewithal for a meal. Mr Webb then left the office, l-ut returned later, and his identity was revealed. He made up for so misleading the young man in the office by taking him for a tour of inspection with him over the telephone exv-hange and post office. The “Churchill Age” This period of time, in which we are j now living, will probably be called the J “Churchill Age” by the historians of I the future, is an editorial comment in j the “Efficiency” magazine. “It will be the third and greatest golden age of the British peoples. We had the ‘Elizabethan Age.’ made glorious by the defeat of Spain and the exploits of Drake and the plays of Shakespeare. We had the 'Victorian Age,’ when we became the leaders of the world in industry and finance. And now we are living in the beginning of the ‘Churchill Age.’ which will shine for ever in history as the period when we defeated Hitler and restored civilisation, liberty, and private enterprise. We who are now alive are privileged more than all the British generations of the past, and perhaps more than all the British generations of the future This is our supreme age of great men and great deeds. We are all St. Georges. We are putting an end to the dragon. We are making sure that all future generations of British peoples shall live happily, prosperous and free.” Electrical Equipment From Britain In twelve months no fewer than 13 complete generating units have been 1 built for overseas by one British firm 1 alone (writes a London correspondent). In new territory an outstanding order was a complete power station of 60.000 ! k.w. for Turkey; and China received a j 2C,000k.w, 3.000 r.p.m. turbine plant. Apart from these large orders, the con- i slruction of transformers set up an ex- 1 port record, a considerable part of which was for high-voltage transformers. New Zealand took seven big ver- i tical-shaft waterwheel alternators; L Madras a horizontal-shaft alternator, ■ and South Africa a number of smaller I j alternators of similtar type. The year’s ', achievement is striking when it is re- \ membered the amount of Government , work done at the same time; and. do- , spite the calls of war work upon technicians, a steady improvement in dc- , sign has also been accomplished over , the period, especially of transformers for efficiency and economy. Suits to match your woollens! Gorays, Koverays, and tailored styles in plain shades and checks, S.S.W to O S From 27/6. McKay’s.* The annual meeting of the Riwaka branch of the Plunket Society will be held in the Riwaka school on Monday 2nd June, at 7 p.m. Berlei Fitting Service at McKay’s! : Miss Ethel Berlei, expert corsetiere. is ! here to fit you personally. Phone 71 j 1 for an appointment.* Miss Ethel Berlei, expert corsetiere. | from Berlei House, is at McKay’s for , one week only. Book early. Phone 71 i for appointment.*