Very Dirty Work'

NZ Truth, Issue 1197, 8 November 1928, Page 1

Very Dirty Work'

Bath Water for Gordon Coates, Esquire

ABLUTIONS' ON TRAIN

"Taihape, (October 24.—The Prime Minister held up the first northern express last night. for over half an hour because the bath water tank needed replenishing.

"MR. COATES' annoyance, though "* considerable, was nothing; to the indignation: of the passengers g,t what was considered an unnecessary^ delay,"

Fancy, the passengers having : the temerity to „ become, indignant- ■■ over such a^ -trifling matier as the holding up of the train for half an hour when. Gordon— arid, Minister of Railways at that— wanted a bath !

It's dirty work v electioneering, arid General Manager of Railways Sterling should Have made it his own personal business to see : that, the bath water tank m his big chief's carriage was full. - : : ■' •:;.;*•.•'■'■'?'.• .• ; ;■ ' >- ; ,

He might have,: know.n that Gordon would want , a tub. Such .neglect is scandalous— a vwanton disregard, for the duties of his office. In a spirit of trembling humility, should Sterling collect his monthly slice of that £3500 j a year salary. ':.' ■:.-. ■■'..'■ Direful Results : He's paid handsomely for his job and now we must really come to the cpn^ elusion that there: is, after all, Some modicum of triith m . -the criticism levelled at him. "Travel m comfort---by/rcail" his boosting goes. !,. -i ' . When such matters as empty bath water tanks crop up when, the Prime Minister isabput, it. doesn't say much for the minor details of comfortable railway travel— for the .common herdV / . What mattered it if paltry business appointments had to go by; the board or such mundane things as mails were, a little late? Gordon must have his bath.

Let the just . vengeance of ■• the.; gods fall upon an unrepentant mankind, .let work-weary: firemen \Yait another hour for their tea; if necessary— but let Gordon have his bath! A New Zealand, to her everlasting shame, has given the world something ;to talK over with bated ( breach for , the next two decades.' '■ • •./ Such an insult offered to the Prime Minister through his bath, unprecedented as it is m this or any\other country may 'have direful results; :t, may lead to class hatred, civil war or, worse still, open , hostility to .the I Government. ;

We offer up a fervent prayer that such a disgraceful occurrence does not again sully the name of this fair young Dominion. .' , : .■ ■ ' ■