"COME ON, TOMMY”

Hokitika Guardian, 25 October 1928, Page 6

"COME ON, TOMMY”

THE PRIME MINISTER’S METHODS. INVERCARGILL, October 21. TliejPrime Minsiter (Mr J. G. Coates) took up an interjector in a very neat fashion at Otauta.u on Saturday night. Mr Coates was speaking of the difficulties of the timber industry, and a man who is known to be an experienced worker in the bush, but had not heal’d of the measures which have been taken to put the industry on a sound footing, refused to accept Mr Coates’s remarks. Every now and again lie wanted to give a little speech of liis own, until at last the Prime Minister thought it was time, he was dealt with.

“ I will tell you what I will do, old man,” lie said. “ When T finished IT give you five minutes up heie , hut if you keep on interrupting we will never get through.” ft was about an hour later when the address terminated, but Mr Coates had not forgotten. He had heard the man’s Christian name, and he- called: “ Come on now, Tommy. It is your turn. Come on and give us five minutes of the brightest and best. They are all here, and we will listen to what you have to say.” The crowd was delighted, and urged the greatly embarrassed “Tommy” to go up on thy* platform, hut lie held his seat and blushed.

The Prime Minister let him out by laughingly remarking: “All right. Tommy, some other time, eli?”