OVATION FOR JUDGE

Hokitika Guardian, 6 September 1930, Page 2

OVATION FOR JUDGE

AT COMPETITIONS FESTIVAL WELLINGTON DEMONSTRATION. Telegraph- -Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, September 5. A unique event in the history ot the Competitions occurred at the Town Hall to-day, as 1 Mr Harry Thomas, elocutionary judge was about to give his final decision in the men’s class. Nine men who have coiqsistently competed, .stepped forward and seized Mr Thomas, chaired him up to the stage, and surrounding him sang “For He’s a Jolly Good bellow One of the competitors made a short speech, saying how much they had appreciated Mr Thomas’s uniform fairness in judging, and the very helpful criticism given on his award sheets. They hoped that Mr Thomas would some day return and judge at Wellington competitions, and assured him of a hearty welcome.

Mr Thomas in reply, said that lie never in all his adjudicating experience met with such a number df “sports” among men, as in Wellington, and he might say the same about the ladies, boys and girls. He was a very bad sailor, he said and had decided not to come to New Zealand again, but the heartiness and sincerity of the competitors had quite altered his decision, and if invited by the Executive, he would assuredly cross the Tasman once again.