THE AMAZON TRAIL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 189, 22 July 1940, Page 5

THE AMAZON TRAIL

HARD-DAY FOR COPPERS' SCENES IN THE STRAND

The red-coals were in town with a vengeance last Friday and Saturday. Whether these female collectors were genuine 'Bolshies' or had merely donned the scarlet capes as a tantalising medium for the ire of the masculine gender 'over the way'

is open to speculation, but the fact remains that the members of the fair sex had to employ the services of a sprinkling of Fifth Columnists from, the strong silent sex, and these masqueradors in' sheep's clothing fleeced many of their unsuspecting* mates before the scales fell from their eyes. However, to our muttons again! Friday was a day of financial chaos

for many a well intentioned husband, marching home with his week ly earnings. In spite of the fact that pennies were all that were asked for, the solicitous collectors forgot conveniently that many pennies make a 'bob/ and that many bobs make a 'quid.' Thus were the weeks financial accumulation undermined' in the pockets of the 'mere male.' "The Wizard of O'z.*

One poker faced gent from a well known hardware firm, announced that he had been twice down the Strand and had come back immune. He "\vas promptly christened the 'Wizard of Oz' by his confederates. Unfortunately someone must have let. the secret out that evening for the 'Wis* became the object of the concentrated attention of at fceast a dozen sinister figures in red and white. He ruefully admitted having cut up ten hob, before the night was through. When the Copper Trailed. But our secret scouts informed us that there were wild goings-on in one of our reputable public houses. Here one of the male collectors had cornered a number of imbibing gentlemen and offered to 'shout' on condition that they on their part contributed to the trail laid by the men. The offer was too tempting, and the hero was about to leave with a hatful of coppers, when one of the red-coated opposition landed on the scene and with a deft movement sent the lot on the floor. In the scramble, the strong silent one got 2s 6d, and 'the red rag to the bull' walked off triumphantly with 10s. The law of legal expansion, as Adolf -would say. Even the minions of the law were not immune, and the writer still cherishes the pleasing picture of one of our best known keepers of the King's Peace, feeling ruefully in his pockets. It was the dazzling smile that broke him down and he seemed to sob visiblv. The Chewing Gum Racket. Members of the chewing gum cult must have inspired several of our l,ess principled urchins ' to deeds of daring, based on the 'get rich quick' plan. The idea, simple in itself was briefly, that for the outlay of a small amount of capital one is able to pur chase not merely chewing gum which tastes sweet for a few minutes, but also something which when stvick to the sole of a boot or shoe, makes pennies adhere. At least one culprit was 'caught ambling across the line of pennies and leaving blank spaces in its trail. Seven pence ha'penny w r as. thus rescued. It is probably for this reason that the ladies, being less suspicious than the men competitors, lost the day. for we are informed from well authorised sources that every time |a friendly member of the opposition visited the female scene of operations, for the purpose of 'just seeing how you are getting on,* there was always a noticeable shortage afterwards which could not be explained