THE PURPLE SEAM.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1974, 3 February 1914, Page 5

THE PURPLE SEAM.

■> LAYING BARB.THE TRUTH. Formal debates and discus-Hone sometimes bear the fwrit of their kind, but it is often in., the informality* of conversational argument that, bne sees, the purple seam of truth, which the formal rules .frequently cause to be obscured or allow to appear oa tho surface only so gentcely that it is-overlooked. One of these bright- spots in a world of niahy mythical problems shone yesterday upon a little upstairs room in tvhich the parties to. an industrial disputs were gat-Wed awaiting the comnicacement. of formal business. Talk was opened by .a., sturdy, • rieh-voieed Scotchman, who addressed himself to a little 'ma who represented a. labour ■Union. The former is iv successful man", and hero success merely mentis that by his own efforts and thrift lie- has succeeded ih improving his own.temporal position.. Tho litter's object for thr* .iirno being was to raise the Wages of the men in the trade in which tho former was a master. . . iS ,;, / .^. y .,,. The Successful Business Si an (lireak* ing tlio silence in a loud voice): Well— I dott't think they will get any rise at alii W/6 Want a reduction. Prices are corning down. -..'■*" Pause. The S.B.Ji, (a little- louder): The ■worker has been getting all the best of it. It's the- bosses' time for a turn. The working man's been doing well and wasting his money going to picturo theatres .and all sorts of amusements, ' The Labour Representative: Good Institutions. Cheap amusements. Wo couldn't pay far dearer amusements. 5.8.M.: It's no good. You get nothing out of them. ; L.8.: What about the buildings? 5.8.M.: I tell you it*s no good. Brief silence. • ' 5.8.M.: I ca.n't afford to go to these 'things. Another silence.. Someone made a remark about bacon and eggs for breakfast. S.B.M. .(interjecting quickly): Bacon nnd eggs I Bacon ana eggs! I have td live on porridge. .. L.R.. laughed heartily. -, 5.8.M.: Porridge! I honestly toll jc-u I've GOT to do it. L.R. (laughing faintly): You're looking too well for porridge. Take off a bit of that condition before you try to convince anyone that that's all you ha-ve- for breakfast/ . .

5.8.1f. (reminiscent of Harry IJauder, "Edison record"):_Well —I'm telfin , y ! .- L.R.. looked anxious ta drop the oonr. versation. '

S.B.M. glanced at him, and proceeded: Too much staying out late at night, and going to bed at 11 and 12 o'clock, and getting up in the'njornkg slmigf'ng their shoulders and groaning, "On, don't ftwl liko work to-day, I think I'll take it easy. Tho boss can stand it."

L.E. (se.arcliing for words): Oh-— 5.8.M.: That's fhe game! 1 know [ Look here! Scotland is tlio greatest nation in the- world, and lies b&eit leading the world for years. Now, it wasn't going out to picture theatres, and staying ont late, at niglit; that made Scotland the greatest .nation -on 'the earth. You are all for luxuries, for going out to tilings, and yoUi , wives are all for ■fine dresses. When I eame here first I had to Save every penny to build a house for myself—n<jl .sailiings, tat pennies. You fellows* u&rer think qf saving pennies. ....

L,E.: No. We can't even put away, a petiny. '■•■■• - S.B.M. (passing inexorably on): You talk about the Cost of living hero. It is n]l hu&cotube. J'OU can live eTiea.pe-r-here than in England ifi yeu wa-iit-to. Say! Clio's going to get that new job? I. want to get into the UftflKSr Souse, and get that- job on tho Arbitration Court. %j.J{. (laughing); .You wont get the job*. You're too obstinate-. , 5.8.M.: I tell you I've 'had "fifty years' exp&fionoe. I'm a practical man, and I' want tho job. L.R. t You'to too obstinate. You haven't got the spirit of conciliation. S.BM,. (very impressively): You're qualifying for you're diploma as a firstclass -extremist. This is a .beautiful country,- and wo wast more- people in. it. You know what they're doins with ex» tremists in South Africa.' I wouldn't Kk© to nep them start-deporting'hero. Ha-ha-ha*a4ia! ' QowJU morning, Sir. Chairman. Good-bye, gentlemen. Ho-ho-ho»ho-*ho! '