PERSONAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4524, 7 February 1923, Page 2

PERSONAL.

Mr L. May, of the Public Wor,ks Department, and Mi’s May have returned to Paeroa after a holidaj’ spent at Wellington and Wanganui. QUEER SIOE OF THINGS. ' TIN GODS. (,Bj- Septimus..) I suppose you will have met him before. He’s not uncommon. In fact you will find him, usually comfortably settled, in very community. ' He’s a “ leading light ” ; yet. never leads anything. He’s ruled by public opinion —and his wife. When asked if he will support a progressive move of any sort he usually replies : “I won’t oppose it, and I am not.supporting it. ’ He may add : ‘‘lt is .a matter that requires mature consideration - ’ (fine word, ‘‘mature”). So the “leading light” comfortably supports his gobi - watch chain, and is regarded as “a very worthy man.” As he never has an opinion of his own, or, if he has, is afraid to express it, it is difficult to see exactly where the “man” comes in. He’s useful as an example of how to thrive in a small community. In fact, he once told me how he “did it.’" “Firstly,” says he, “I said to myself’, it is a question of mind over matter. These people want a tin god, and I am he. So I dressed to the partclean boots, speckless coat, hair always nicely parted. Then for the start. There was a mothers’ meeting for tiic prevention of cruelty to baa lambs. I go. I speak of the awful suffering of the little lambs left out in a cold world on cold nights. I leave. The women murmur ‘■■how sympathetic.’ On Sunday I drop ha. - a-crown into the plate, sort of casual like, whereas my predecessor gave sixpence. I am sympathetic. I am generous. Having established the ‘human touch,’ I await events. I am asked to accept nomination for a school committee, and accept with the greatest possible amount of reluctance that I am able to display without losing the job. The rest follows as a matter of course. Business men regard me as likely to be ‘useful’—whatever that means. I become Mayor, then M.P. I am an authority, though I never oppose or support anything. It is all so easy," he added, with ts sigh of self satisfaction.: Of course, I recognised he was right. Wasn't his success a proof of that? But in my mind I follow him further. “Henry,” I hear an acidulated voice say ip a commanding tone, "have you wiped your boots properly Remember. you are in your home now.” And I see the tin god crestfallen before the dominating mind of his spouseAmong his fellow men he will preach the gospel of mind over, matter. Tn his own home he doesn’t really matter. Women despise tin men.