THE OFFICE BOY’S DILEMMA.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2140, 16 March 1908, Page 2

THE OFFICE BOY’S DILEMMA.

(N.Z. “Times.”) There was nothing doing on- Saturday afternoon, and the office boy was restless. “Hang that kid,” said the editor, “he gives mo the jim-jams.” “Boy !” lie called across the sanctum, “what the .deuce is tip? Can’t you find something to do?” “Yessir!” said tho boy, but went on fidgeting. “Boy!” called the editor, “would you like to please the directors, would you like to please—!” Then he stopped, and rising from his chair he walked across the sanctum. “Say, boy,” ho whispered, “come here. Do you know anything about finance P” “No,.sir.” “Well, then, write me an article—write me an article on the Government Savings Bank, and give them, give them —jip ! —d’y’understand ?” “Yessir!” After drumming his fingers on the counter for a time, and showing other signs of mental anguish, the boy wrote: “I see -they want a Chief Post- Office at? Palmerston North. They shouldn’t be allowed it, because it discourages Thrift-, because they don’t have to pay anything for having tlieir accounts kept, and they get paid interest on current accounts. This is all wrong. It gives a failse indication of the prosperity of tho country. It is. a Gilded Pill. It is interfering with Private Enterprise in tho way they don’t allow in older places like Londonderry, Aberdeen, Cardiff, or Leeds, where they have to send for their money to London and wait a- week. People would spend le,ss if their money was harder to get hold of, aud the Minister would not bo able to speak so gliljly of tho prosperity of the country. ‘ If I had my way I would cut out all the chief post offices except Wellington, and only open that for withdrawals onco every five years.” . . . “So muck for Palmerston North’s chance of added postal dignity!” lie added. When ho had written about a column of this, tho office boy took his production to tho editor. The latter scanned it between the blotches with a fierco, puzzled expression. “This is drivel!” ho exclaimed, Rasslonatelly. “Yes-si;r,” said the hoy, “I know it is, but don’t you see it’s a—it’s a—smack at the Government.” “Ali-um-yes! Of course!” said tlio editor, benignantly. “Of course. Push it through to the sub, and toll him to head it—um!— let-me-see-now oh-ah-yes! “A Doubtful Policy!” -and that is how it happened.