OHIWA POET CLAIMS TO HAVE ANSWER TO WORLD’S TROUBLES: OFFERS TO RUN WHOLE OUTFIT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 13, 29 October 1948, Page 5

OHIWA POET CLAIMS TO HAVE ANSWER TO WORLD’S TROUBLES: OFFERS TO RUN WHOLE OUTFIT

Man With A Message?

Peter F. Toomey—“La Paloma” and “Bullocky” to his public—called to tell us all about it yesterday. He said his writing gift was something extraordinary, and we believe him. We’ve read some of his verses, and we find them unconventional, to the point of being a little more than risque in some cases, and quite regardless of all the accepted traditions of poesy. That, however, does not worry Mr Toomey. He just does what he’s told, so to speak.

Inspiration came to him suddenly, in his shack at Ohiwa. An old head injury burst open, during a storm, and, after he’d slapped a pad on it and tied it up, he felt the urge to write. Something told him then -he had the answer to the world’s problems. He was the man who. would' ultimately lead us out of the mess^

But how to get the public’s ear. ' That was the question. The inspiration that guided him warned him that if he announced his high mission then and there he would probably be thought crazy. No, this thing had to be done ..subtly. That was it. He must become well-known, famous. So that - people would hang on his words. The great message must be put ■ over in a sort of code, wrapped up in entertainment. In verse. Over the .radio, in. magazines, newspapers. He sat down and wrote. He didn’t have to think. Words just flowed off his, pen. In verse. Some of the words were unfamiliar to him. fie didn’t understand • them. “But,” he said, “they’re all in ; the dictionary and they were all in -the right places.” That went on six days and six nights. He neither 'ate nor slept. Worked at fever pitch, but felt no -weariness. It Worried him, so he sought . medical advice. Was he going crazy? ’ The' doctor reassured him. Said men of genius often got taken that way. was months ago. The stuff 'Continues to flow. Has done ever since. But marketing is the problem. You see, if this code' message is to' be put across effectively, Mr Toomey feels his verses should be

We have a poet in our midst. And we don’t mean just a chap who writes verse. This man’s gift is something exceptional. Inspired. He doesn’t understand it himself. Sometimes he doesn’t even understand what he writes.

widely published. But he can’t find anyone who wants to buy bulk lots. And he needs to sell in bulk, to get the cash to place his plan before U.N.O. Imagine the impact on international problems if this sort of thing could be heard over the air: Citizens, now will “Rotorua’s Belle” listen to La Paloma, the “International Pleader”, Friends, of course you all by. now know Bullocky is your next International Leader, Girls, with love “Ohiwa’s Brilliant Poet” now fills your International Reader, Readers, yes of course La Paloma can give this “Lovely Maid” all the love she does needer.

Forceful, isn’t it? Get the way he wraps up the propaganda? Listen to this, addressed to Bob Hope at Hollywood: “No Bob, in my new,world there will be no love elimination, but a lot more illumination in every illustration thus La Paloma does away with the state of frustration. Now, Sir Robert, after a great deal more of delicate calculation La • Paloma throws more, illumination on things in generalisation for your and Bing’s realisation, if you don’t speedily engage the marvellous powers of Ohiwa’s lovely old Poet you’ll all enter the state of paralisation.” Easy, isn’t it? , Amuse ’em and warn ’em at the same time. It all helps to establish the grip. This man can even prevent wars— and stop them. He says so

himself. Here’s an extract from his “Challenge To The World”, in prose, this time: *

‘‘l’ll go to UNO tomorrow and take over the management of the .world’s affairs for one year only and guarantee in less than 5 years to have a well-fed and contented “Universe”—though I don’t want power or great riches.” He’s convinced he knows the answers. All he needs is to get the public’s ear. And he believes he can do that through his mirthful verses—if he can sell them.