GOING TO LET IT GROW.

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 17 February 1915, Page 6

GOING TO LET IT GROW.

Quite recently an officer of the Irish police force was on his quarterly inspection. Now, the officer in question is a relentless disciplinarian^ and as such is regarded with awe by his subordinates. On this occasion his inspection was made at an unusual period of the quarter, and was entirely unexpected by the party at a certain station. To make matters worse, on his arrival at this particular station he ordered the party to turn out on parade' at once. The senior constable—caught napping—appeared on parade wearing four days' growth of beard. This so enraged the officer that he addressed the constable as follows: "How dare you, constable, to appear on my parade without having been shaved? It's downright impertinence on i-\)x\v part!" Constable: "I'm going to let it grow, sir." Now, as the regulations of the service permit a- man to grow a beard if he so desires, the officer was obliged to accept the excuse. However, proceeding with his inspection, #he came to a recruit—not long from the depot— whose hair was rather long. This second affront to the officer's dignity was unbearable, and he hotly demanded to know of the recruit why he presumed to appear on parade without having his hair properly cut. The recruit, observing how successfully the senior constable's excuse worked, calmly replied: "I'm going to let it grow, sir."