“ PLEASE, SIR, THE LIGHT!”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17220, 11 December 1923, Page 8

“ PLEASE, SIR, THE LIGHT!”

AN EXTRAVAGANT DEMAND. CITIZENS LACK COMMONSENSE. “Oh! Sir, please, when can I get the light.” “ You will get- it when we get- it.” “ But, I’m In darkness.” “ So is everybody else.” “ But ” And the old lady had the telephone buzzer buzzed in her ear by a city electrical official, whose patience was sorely tried. She was ringing from St Albans. A sickly match had lighted her way to the ’phone, aud like so many other ladies in all parts of the suburbs she was terrified hv the darkness. Little mice scampered across the floor, she thought, burglars were not far off, and as the rays of a passing motor’s light shone through the window blind her age was precipitated a few years nearer to the century mark. The creaking ,of the bathroom window and a following piercing siren blast of a motor in the distance completely unnerved her. YVith frenzied fear she cranked the handle, of the ’phone. “ 793.” panted she to the operator. “Well, what is it?” asked a voice at the other end. The dialogue followed. The official’s reply was stereotyped. To men and women he had given the same answer hundreds of times last night. All the consumers of current wanted light. They must have it. The children were crying. The wife was frightened and husband had much work to do. Of course, if one has not the goods one can not deliver them. That was the position in which tho City Council Electricity Department were placed, although countless citizens had neither the necessary balance of mind nor the commonsense at the time to realise it.