JUDGE’S “ULTIMATUM”

Southland Times, Issue 25670, 12 May 1945, Page 9

JUDGE’S “ULTIMATUM”

Court Of Arbitration And Bread Supplies (Special) WELLINGTON, May 11. “No bread, no case,” said the judge of the Court of Arbitration, Mr Justice Tyndall, when the Court sat in Wellington on Wednesday morning to hear submissions by the parties in an application in relation to the Bakers’ and Pastrycooks’ Award. His Honour explained that at the request of his wife he had endeavoured to buy some bread when on his way from his home to the court, but without avail, and he inquired what the parties to the dispute were prepared to do about it. He was assured that bread was being baked during the morning and that he would be able to obtain some at midday. Before delivering his “ultimatum” to the parties his Honour had related a story of an eminent Polish electrical engineer, Dr Charles Poteus Steinmetz, who was an employee of General Electric Company in America some 20 years ago. Dr Steinmetz, he said, smoked cigars “just like Mr Churchill.” The General Electric, because of a question of fire risk in their factory raised by their insurance company, issued an order that no smoking was to be permitted. For some days Dr Steinmetz was missing from work. Finally the company rang him. to find out what was wrong. Was he ill, they asked. The doctor said he was quite well. Well, what about making an appearance at work, they asked. “No smoking, no Steinmetz,” replied the doctor.

“And so, gentlemen,” added his Honour, “no bread, no case!”