WHERE DEMOS IS KING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1267, 24 October 1911, Page 4

WHERE DEMOS IS KING.

1, CIGARETTES AND CEREMONY. Tho new Posl.masrer-Genor.il, Mr. C. 13. Frazc.r (says tho Sydney "Morning HeroM"), is evidently not poing lo bland upon ceremony, however lime-honoured it may be. ITo took over the administration of tho Sydney G.P.O. Hie other day, and it foil to his lot on bis first day of Ministerial responsibility to receivo a deputation from the telegraph operators to complain of a new regulation introducing broken shifts. As tho members of the deputation pro< cowled to put forward their case the new Postmaster-General was seen to be smoSing a cigarette. The members of the deputation wcro seated on the other side of the table,' and ono interrupted the other while he was speaking with tho remark: ""When I see. anybody smoking I always want to have a smoke myrelf." At the same tinio ho drew out a box of cigarettes. Instead of being shocked at wliat EOino Ministers of tho Crown miglit have been pa.nloned for regarding as a piece of undue familiarity on Hie part of a departmental officer who had como to wait upon him, tho ne\y PostmasterGener.il promptly pulled out his matchbox, and threw it over the table for tho officer to "light up." The officer did so. Both Minister tmd deputation smoked oigarette.s ill company; It marked a new departure in Ministerial otiquetto when receiving deputations. Sydney hitherto, in both Commonwealth and State publio offices, has been a strangor to such free-and-easy methods.