TRADITIONAL EXCUSE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21962, 20 November 1934, Page 11

TRADITIONAL EXCUSE

VALID USE BY THE DUKE " SEEING A MAN ABOUT A DOG " The Duke of Gloucester was in fcappy vein in. a speech made at a dinner given in his honour in Melbourne by the Returned Sailors and Soldiers' League. Nowhere else would anyone find a better scene of cheery good-fellowship than when ex-servicemen met in a reunion such as this, the Duke remarked. It reminded him of the story of journalists who reported a soldiers' gathering, and wrote several complimentary passages about the "battlescarred veterans." Unluckily, in the printing of the reports, ono emerged with references to "battle-scared veterans," and another with references to "bottle-scarred veterans." The Duke said that he was too young to serve at the war, but he felt that he had become at least "half a Digger" when an alliance was formed between his regiment, the 10th Hussars, and the 10th Australian Light Horse, on his arrival in Perth.

"I have been greatly impressed by the numbers of ex-servicemen who have paraded at every place that J have visited," the Duke continued. "1 feel that 1 ought to apologise for having kept some of you waiting on parade rather longer than f should have, and I fear that I have only a rather stupid excuse to offer, in that I went to see a man about a dog." This remarkevoked loud laughter.

The Argus states that the Duko spoke truly when he said he went to spe a man about a dog. After be left the races at Flemington lie visited the kennels conducted by Mr. W. Nippard, at Coburg, in company with Major Alan Currio, M.L.C., and purchased two Australian terrier pups. Ho recently became interested in the Australian terriers owned by Major Ctirrie, and he expressed a desire to take some to England for breeding purposes. He exhibited knowledge oi the points of the breed, and paid particular attention to their coats and mouths. Although only Mr. Nippard was aware of the proposed visit and no one was present wlTen the Duke arrived, more than 600 people cheered him on his departure half an hour later.