VOTING CONTEST

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7018, 5 January 1910, Page 6

VOTING CONTEST

Persist. Persist daily. : Persist with determination. Persist until the 19th of March. Persistence and determination have overcome much, and nothing short of these qualities will. get a subscription out of the man who thinks the "Times" is not the best paper for him to read. Persist in reminding the man who is clow to part with his subscription. You’re selling him something he wants every day, and - better than anything else ho can buy in the open market. .Remind him that in return for his subscription he’ll get something to gladden each day, and ; you’ll get the votes to pile up. for the world's tour. In his own interest alone he can't refuse, let alone the uncontrollable desire to reward persistence. The rule in most popular voting contests is to give ten prizes, which only permits a small per cent; of the workers to win, but the “Times" gives twenty raluable awards, which enables every hard working candidate to be among the lucky ones. It is alleged that several of onr contestants are landing some handsome reserve votes, and, when asked how they stand, simply smile and deny they are standing at all—they are fairly running for the goal, March 19th. There has been some big voting during the past four weeks—nothing spectacular —just plain big—'big all down the line of workers. But there are a number who are casting very few ballots, preferring to watch the other fellow’s hand while they conceal their own. A well-known insurance _ company is alleged, to be very much interested in this Contest, with a view to scouring a lew good boosters from among the contestants at the close of the- balloting. The manager of that company has a rood head, for he knows that a successful candidate will make a most excellent insurance hustler. From the time of Horace Greely, the noted American journalist, great men. have been noted for their poor ohiro-

graphy, and in this connection a pro« minent Wellington writer, is no exception. .The secretary of a . well-known local club ■ recently addressed a letter of invitation to the journalist, requesting the latter’s presence for a speech at an annual affair. The answer came in due time and covered two pages. .la vain the 1 , secretary pored over the,, manuscript.’.' He ,turned it over to the president,;.’the, board of directors and-' the members in tuni, but all failed to decipher, the scrawls. .The question before the club was, "Has Mr Blank accepted or has ho declined?" The secretary finally , took the matter: into his own hands and wrote : the following note to Mr Blank: —"Yonr letter 'rcceived, but I. have not been able to determine whether you- have accepted or declined our invitation. If you will bopresent kindly make a cross at the bot--tom of this letter. If you can not appear, please draw a circle." Indue time the letter came back, but up to this date the secretary has not been able to, decide whether it was a cross or a circle. If the gentleman with the bad handwriting will send one of cur candidates a subscription we will wager him sovereigns to hot buns that the recipient can tell whether it is fox on© month or five years.

Another Knight has entered the lists, and qrsned with the lance of determination, protected ;by the shield of ■ courage, the helmet of wisdom, and the armour of stability, he will doubtless soon be riding straight to the top of." this column, where the dauntless warriors/ now hold the situation. We refer to Mr Wesley Knight, of Otaki.

A few days ago this department referred to the large immigration from the States into Canada. Yesterday’s cables announced that last year 90,148 went from the United States into Can. ada, while the American investments in the Dominion amounted to .£45,000,000! It will yet remain for New Zealand’s world’s tourist to point the way to our Yankee cousin to this wonderful island continent, and turn the tide of immigration where the advantages and benefits for the homeseeker are unequalled, on earth. Once the tide is turned onr \rtiy, and it must inevitably be, men and money will, soon make us the garden spot of the world and, the manufacturing centre of the Antipodes. Will you be the tourist to carry the news, to the old countries?/ .. V: <