SANDY’S CORNER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 68, 21 March 1945, Page 4

SANDY’S CORNER

SUGAR STILL A BITTJER SUBJECT. The sugar argument, between the acting Minister of Supply and the grocers, is becoming more bitter than ever. EASIER TO SAY “YES” THAN “NO.” There arc many men in the , world (and women too) who fondlj imagine ihat it is easier to say “yes” than "no.” They have the erroneous impression that they are strong when they can refuse, and thus avoid tjie halo of "a good chap.” As a matter of fact it is sometimes harder to say* "yes" than “no,” because the "yes” man is so positive. He is the man who has the hall mark ol progress, a man who can. and will, get things done, or do them, a man confident in himself. All that may te very true, but it didn’t quite work out that wav with our company cook in the good old days of mibilisation and the Home Guard, and all that sort of thing. It happened this way. The District Commandant, and all his retinue, red tabs, hatbands, stars and crowns, ribbons, held glasses and everything else, descended unexpectedly on the field cookhouse in mid-morning. The cook made two hasty resolves—to try and become invisible and to say “yes” to everything JL put to him if lie failed in fading oui. Naturally, his first resolve was impossible. He was found, accosted, and, with some precision (for a cook that is), stood to attention. The Commandant. Nice cook-house you have here my man? The Cook: Yes sir. Very nice and clean, smells nice. Yes sir. If the quartermaster gave vou rotten vegetables would you cook them? The Cook (even more empahicaMy than before): Yes. sir. In the uncomfortable passage of time that ensued the commandant’s cane lapped and the company commander. the battalion commander, even the adjutant, the R.S.M., the C.S.M., •and certaintly the quartermaster looked as if the Japs had landed and they were prisoners. The Commandant (kindly inside, and in deference to the speed in uptake cooks are capable of): If your quartermaster gave you rotten vegetables you would cook them, you say? The Cook (still firmly determined not to be cheated out of his second resolve) was just about to say “yes,’* when l.he quartermaster chipped in. “The' only word he knows is ‘yes,* sir.” he said. “Then he’s a better man than a quartermaster,’ flashed the commandant. “Most quartermasters can only \ say ‘no. ” p-