A QUESTION OF COURTESY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19453, 8 October 1926, Page 12

A QUESTION OF COURTESY.

DEPUTATION INCIDENT.

REFUSAL TO REMOVE HAT.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN COBHESPOND^NT.j] WELLINGTON, Thursday.

A question of courtesy cropped up in the Cabinet room when the Acting-Prime Minister, Hon. W. Downie Stewart, and other Ministers were receiving a deputation which included a number of the unemployed. One man did not remove his when the proceedings commenced. No comment was passed at tjje time, but later there was a development, and the wearer of the hat is not likely to forget it. The Acting-Prime Minister was discussing tho problem of unemployment, and one view he expressed brought from the wearer of the hat a muttered: "That's no solution of the problem." " If you want to speak to mo," returned the Acting-Prime Minister in a calm voice, " I would remind you that you still have your hat on." " And I'll keep my hat on until you solve the problem," was tho man's reply. Mr. Stewart: If you will not show me courtesy, I would remind you that there aro ladies present. Mr. R. McKean, M.P., recommended the man to listen to the dictates of common decency. " Yes, take it off," criew several members of the deputation in chorus. Tho wearer of tho hat, however, was adamant, and when Mr. Stewart again reminded him that, out of respect to the ladies present, if for no other reason, his courso was clear, his only reply was: "I'm not affected in that way." Members of the deputation rose immediately to inform Mr. Stewart that others present dissociated themselves from tho action of tho hat wearer.

Mr. P. Eraser, M.P.: I do not know who he is, but I think ho ought tojake off his hat, and act the man by doing it. (Hear, hear.) The Acting-Prime Minister: I have an, important statement to make, and I do not propose to make it unless he takes his hat off or retires.

Mr. A. Cook (president of the Alliance of Labour) sharply informed tho man to do one thing or the other, but the wearer of the hat did tho other, and removed himself from the room.