Call That Business?

Otago Witness, Issue 2651, 4 January 1905, Page 77

Call That Business?

Sir Thomas Dewar tells an amusing story of an incident that befeU/Jiim during hiselection campaign ._ in St. George's-in-th'e-: East". -A £reat meeting had. been, organised! in" .the- ; Town' Ball,- at which Mr C. T. Ritchie, -then a Minister,- deliveredan /address,; but after- it, was over,.* it was found that Mr Ritchie's overcoat had been stolen. '" An urgency meeting of the committee was" at price held, - and, ' in” orders to, save ' Mr any annoyance, the sum o£. 10s was- sent" round to a certain quarter ] of the constituency well known as a thieves' ] taunt. . "Very shortly three overcoats were brought round to the town hall. Mr Ritchie picked out Tiis coat from among them, the other' two were honourably returned, and everybody felt .relieved that the incident" had terminated so satisfactorily. A few days afterwards, when Sir JChomas Dewar was on his rounds canvassing, a ivan tapped him on the shoulder, and asked if he could have a word -or two with him. "Certainly,"— answered the "candidate. "How much did you send -for the coat?" he was asked. "Ten shillings," was the reply. ''Well, guvnor, do you call that business? I only got a shilling out of it, and I was the bloke who pinched it !"