Thoughtful Moments

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 25, 19 November 1943, Page 2

Thoughtful Moments

(Supplied by the Whakat

FIT FOR WORK

Tin- manager <>!' ;i iara' iinn chats with Tom Smith about his fitness for responsibility. .Mr Hammond: Come in Tom, I want to have ;i chili with yo'ii. Kver since we had llif iu'ws about Ho!) Andrews' death in Tunisia I have been concerned about the future running of the office. I feel Bob's dentil very keenly -indeed. Ho was one of the best. If lie had come back from the war he was bound, to have made his mark with our Company. Tom: Yes, Mr Hammond, it is pretty tough losing elutps like Hob. We younger chaps thought the world of him. Mr Hammond: I know you did. He was op,;? of those Hi hie Clas,s chaps. ! make no pretence of being roli.siou.s r.;y.-e!.!\ but I. must say Hob was always a challenge to me for he did practice what he preachcd, and as you know lie iva.s no fool at his job. Tom: You're quite right Mr Hammond. Although we used to barrack Bob occasionally, in our hearts we knew he was a belter chap than we were. Mr Hammond: A Veil, k suppose we've got to lace tacts and get on with the 1 job. "We have to make plans to fill Hob's place, and quite franklj T that is" why l, have sent for you. j have told our Directors that I have had my eye on you for some time, but as you know it its an iin-i portant job that lias to be filled; with prospects in rapid, promotion, and we want to be sure that we pick the right man. You are still on the young, side, but personally I believe, in backing young men. Tom: It's very good of you to consider me for Hob's* position, and if P am appointed I can assure you I Avill give you of my very best. Mr Hammond: Yes, I feel sure you will, Tom, but before making the appointment 1 want to know a little more about you. I know you are taking lectures at the Varsity for your B.Com. That is all to the good, but there is something more to the job than straight out efficiency. You will be handling large sums of money and doing confidential work of all kinds, and we want to be deadly sure that the man we appoint is one we can trust implicitly. Tom: I think you can depend on me, Mr Hammond. I don't think I have any serious vices. I admit F have a spot or two occasionally, but 1/ know when to stop. Mr Hammond: I am glad you mentioned that, Tom, for quite, frankly, L was a little concerned when I saw you come out of the Crown Hotel a few days- ago with that, bunch of ■chaps you knock round with. You didn't see me, but I saw you. Then I heard a whisper of a rather merry party you were mixed up with the other night. I have seen so many good chaps go to the wall with the booze that 1" am a bit scared of it. [ doirt want to sec you making a mess:, of things, and. Ii am sure you don't mind my giving you this little bit of friendly advice. For most chaps the only safe way is to get on to the water waggon. That's not a bad step if a chap is doing to take

OUR SUNDAY MESSAGE

mt- Ministers' Association). a responsible position in the business world. Tom: Thank you for being so candid Mr Hammond. As ti said be fori 1 ! Lhing I. can keep the l.quor in. its pi ace-. To be perfectly frank. I'm not accii oil it, but you know how e;> y it is to fall in with the other chaps, simply to be sociable. One doesn't like to be d'liferent. Mr Hammond: I know, Tom. Still, you have your future to consider, and you can't afford to take risks. Booze, is just like gambling. Somehow it gets you unless you have a tight grip on yourself especially \4 r hen you get more money in your pay envelope. You may smile at those Bible Class chaps, but I can tell you t sleep more soundly when I know that important affairs connected with this business, are in their hands. Tom: Thanks'. Mr Hammond, you have certainly given me something to think about. ?,[;• Hamjnond: All right, Tom. Don't forget there's more than thinking needed. Thoughts must become actions to be : any good. To be lit for a real job means being (it for responsibility and fit to be trusted. Anything that makes men less lit than that must be cut- right out. THE LICENSING POLL That over two hundred thousand citizens should have recorded their vote's for Prohibitio.il in the reccnt poll is a significant and encouraging fact, when it is realised how little fight was put into the campaign. This lack of energy in prosecuting the cause of temperance would be responsible for the shifting of some votes to the State Control issue. No serious attempt was made to inform or influence the considerable number of first voters, many of whom are unaware of the reasons, which make Prohibition a reasonable solution of a very difficult national problem. No endeavour was made to answer in advance the old arguments which the Trade produced in its advertisements. Such anticipation could, have been easily made, for the Trade, while spending money lavishly in display advertisements, showed in its defence no ability to get out of the rut. The. temperance forces are desperately in need of strong and imaginative leadership. Under the circumstances., therefore, it is an achievement, that the vote for Prohibition .stood so liigh. ft means that there is a very large body of opinion on this issue which j cannot be shaken and which holds stubbornly to an ideal which gives the only ultimate solution of the liquor problem. Upon that body of opinion the temperance, reformers can build a programme which will carry this country towards our ultimate goal. The pioneers of the cause had nothing like, the same weight of numbers to support them, and yet they fought valiantly and achieved great things. Many of their achievements have not been used by their successors. One example is the teaching of temperance, in our public schools—an item in the curriculum which although compulsory in law is ignored in fact..