IN LIGHTER VEIN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18661, 22 March 1935, Page 5

IN LIGHTER VEIN

MEAT AND QUOTAS MR, J. H. THOMAS' CHAFF LONDON, March 2. When Mr. J. H. Thomas and the High Commissioners meet at a public dinner or luncheon there is usually a good ileal of chaff regarding the subjects of. meat and quotas. At the luncheon given by the Empire societies to Lord Galway, Mr. Thomas' only advice to the Governor-General designate was "Keep off meal,." At a dinner to Mr. $. M. Lanigan O'Keeffe, the new High Commissioner for Rhodesia, the Secretary for the Dominions indulged in further pleasantries about the High Commissioners. Ho told Mr. O'Keeffe: "You will observe that the other High Commissioners are present. But don't be surprised at that, because you will be enrolled as a member of their trade union in five minutes. They have a common agreement and they meet the night before they meet me, so that they will present, a united front."

Mr. Thomas was giving the health of Mr. C. T. te Water, High Commissioner for the Union of South Africa. He referred to Mr. te Water's mention "in diplomatic terms" of a trade agreement between Rhodesia and the Union. "It boils down to the fact that he read it very carefully, did not think much of it, and thinks it is a bad thing for South Africa."

Mr. te Water, when be mentioned the trade agreement in his speech, said: "It is undoubtedly intended to be an amicable document, but it is a complicated affair. Meanwhile, . you and I, Mr. O'Keeffe, have to self our chilled beef to Mr. Thomas and his tough colleague from Scotland, Mr. Elliot."