A PRODIGIOUS PUFF

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 8 January 1944, Page 3

A PRODIGIOUS PUFF

When he welcomed the Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand (the Hon. T. G. d’Alton) at the State luncheon at Parliament House recently, the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) remarked that Mr d’Alton was a man with a versatility not usual in high commissioners. He told the gathering of Mr d’Alton’s experience in industrial ahd political circles, and of his prowess in the boxing ring, and referred to his attainment to championship heights as a club swinger and his interest and active participation in amateur theatrical productions. What the gathering was not told (Mr Fraser may not have heard of it) is a story‘concerning a performance by Mr d’Alton which impressed those in the official party who were among the first to meet him after his arrival in the Dominion. According to the story (says “The Post”) Mr d’Alton landed in New Zealand on his birthday—his fortyeighth birthday. He wa s met officially on behalf of the Government by the Minister of Labour (Mr Webb) who had made the discovery of this happy High pressure arrangements were made, and in due course a cake decorated with 48 candles was produced at Frankton Junction while Mr d’Alton was on his way down by train to Wellington. After the time-honoured custom, Mr d’Alton was asked to see what he could do about blowing out the candles. According to the way the story goes, hi s performance was a knockout—with one puff he is credited with extinguishing the candles