INGENIOUS AUSTRALIAN

Southland Times, Issue 21089, 22 May 1930, Page 12

INGENIOUS AUSTRALIAN

“WORKING” A PASSAGE. ONE WAY TO GET HOME. This is a story of masterly ingenuity. It concerns an Australian whose bold gambling with Fate is worthy of one sprung from a race of Empire builders. With his wife and five children he found himself stranded in London without work and with little money. There was jio prospect of securing employment, and the only thing for the family to do was to get back to friends and employment in Australia. In the man’s difficulty he turned to Australia House for assistance. Ths officials there were kind and courteous but unfortunately they had no funds at their disposal to repatriate a family of seven to Australia. Every avenue of return now seemed closed. Most men in such a situation would have despaired or thrown themselves on the guardians. Not so the resourceful Australian. He had. learned in the course of his negotiations with Australia House that if he had been stranded abroad the consul would have repatriated him. By carefully husbanding his resources he discovered that he had sufficient money to take himself and his family as far as an Italian port. Thereupon he booked passages for that port. When he arrived there, he applied to the British consul for assistance. There was only one thing to do; send him and his family back to Australia by the first available boat. This simple and natural course was fob lowed by the consul, but the bill for their fares.;..? It is rumoured, says a London newspaper, that the account has been sent to Australia House!