“Dandy Citizens All!”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 192, 15 August 1931, Page 16 (Supplement)

“Dandy Citizens All!”

Mr. O Shannessy Please Note

Dear Childer, — It is with great pride and pleasure T tell you a perfectly true story about a Wendyite, whether a lady or a gentleman I do not know in the very least, except that the Wendyite was over the age of twenty-one, and so was a grown-up member. That you understand properly I begin with: On Wednesday, August 5. I visited Wanganui and stood among the crowd at ite Post Office corner. Motor cars there were in plenty, but my attention was attracted by those that had very large ticket in front upon which, in very large print, was the word "Unimproved.” Now, beside me stood one, smoking, who was a great "I” specialist—“l” this, "I” that, “I” the next thing. He seemed a great "know-all,” so to him I turned: "Could you tell me, sir, why those cars are labelled ‘Unimproved’ ?” “Oh, they are on sale, cheap,” came the instant reply. "Out of date, you know. Are you a visitor to the city ?” I assured him I was and he "assured” mn there was not much he could not tell me about Wanganui in which he had lived aH his life. "Then you are a citizen ?” "That'a so! Pleased to have met you," and we parted. I tried another full-grown man about those "Unimproved” cars. He also claimed to be a citizen and informed me that the city was voting about something "Unimproved,’’ couldn’t tel! me exactly what, for he had not a vote, and was not interested. Further un the Avenue I met a man I know by sight. He stopped me with a "Good day,” and remarked, "I have just been voting on the ‘Unimproved.’ I hope we get it for it suits me splendidly; but my word! it will make some of the paople in this block squirm.” Thus I parted with citizen number three, crossed the street to the shop of my destination. "Well, Mr Harvey, what a long time since we met?” "Why, yes,” Mr O’ShannesKy, "and you are a much thinner man which is, perhaps, to your benefit.” "Put it down to the worries of business, Mr Harvey. We are passing through a very trying time, and are voting on something of tremendous importance in the business life of <he city.’’ “But come into the office and light up. while I tell you a story I think should be broadcasted. "I have just had a customer that I shall speak of as ‘him.’ "He told me he had been to record his vote, and that he had voted against ‘unimproved.’ “To this I expressed amazement, for I knew it was against his own personal interests to do so. “Well,” he continued, "I am a man ; I am a ratepayer, I am a citizen; but I want to be more than that; I want to be a just man. an interested ratepayer, and an intelligent citizen. “So I have made myself conversant with

both sides of the question. Every man has a right to his own ideas, but it did not seem to me to be playing the game by my city as a citizen, to think no further than mr own paltry interest. Each man’s vote is his own concern and I do not criticise it. but I know of who are already dismissing theia assistants to swell the ranks of the unemployed because they cannot pay their salaries. I am assured that in this part of th< Avenue alone, it is going to cost thousands oi pounds more per year if ‘unimproved’ is carried, and that means still more and more in the ranks of the unemployed. “That to me is a perfectly terrible thina to lend a hand in; to me it is like to not holding out a helping hand to someone whom I (who am still swimming strongly) might save from drowning. “Whatever the issue, I must maintain the civic spirit of ‘servica before self,’ for more reasons than one. “You see, I am a grown-up member of the ‘Wendy Hut,’ where our creed is to be ’True blue in al! things,’ and although I cannot write letters for them as others can. and do. I am bound, in my own quiet way, to he’,i these children to *grow up taking a conscientious view of the interests nf their community. They cannot be taught too early that they are. each one. little citizens in the making; that the ‘know all’ who knows nothing. Is a bad citizen ; that the citizen who is interested only in what interests himself, is a poor sample; that the citizen who only considers his own interes’s is an utterly splfah and poor-spirited one. but that the good citizen is he who says, ‘this is my city. I want it to be a fine city. I want it to l»e a flourishing city, but if I want it to be all that I must stand by it in its hour of adversity, as it has stood by me in its hour of prosperity.’ "I have enjoyed all its benefits while it was flourishing—and now it is down in its luck, the little extra it costs me a vear I shall enter up in my ledger as a ’Donation to Prosperity.’ "I wish, Mr Harvey,” concluded Mr O'Shannesay, “there were more ‘true blues’ around: they hearten a man up: they are ‘dandy’ citizens; and I wish that tale could be broadcast. indeed I do.” Thought I (but said nothing, of course) "I’ll see what our Wendy says." Won’t our splendid Ite get a surprise, childer? And also, won't Mr O'Shannessy bo pleased—for he takes the "Chronicle” —I asked him.—“BEN.” P.S.—"O’Shannessy”—pen-name.