“GO AND SEE BILL!"

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2725, 26 April 1924, Page 2

“GO AND SEE BILL!"

HE’LL FIX YOU UP

.JACK TAR AND THE PRIME MINISTER. VISITS PARENTS AT GISBORNE

One of the best stories of the British Naval Squadron’s Empire tour, in which an able-bodied seamen of H.M.S. Repulse, probably the longest service man on either of the ships, Hood and Repulse, is the principal figure, transpired on the arrival of the great battleship in Wellington, says the N.Z. Times.

The hero of the story is A.B.S. George Thompson, who joined the Navy in .1597, came to the Antipodes in 1901 on the Ophir with H.M. the King, then Duke of York, and saw service all through the war. His parents and sister came to New Zealand in 1909 and settled in Gisborne, where they have since lived and Thompson has not seen them since.

On learning that the Repulse was coming In Wellington his father communicated with the commanding officer, who gave the sailor 10 nays’ leave, to commence upon arrival of the ships in Wellington. As <llOll as Thompson signed off on Thursday evening he inquired for a boat, but finding tlii- meant a two nr three days trip, and that there was 11,1 boat for a day or two lie proceeded to Laiubton Station.

It was only then that he discovered n railway strike was in progi'es - a ltd that his chances of getting In Gisborne by rail t" see bis parents were remote. lie did not wish t: Ign by sea owing to the time taken in travelling. He was walking hack almig Uainhton Quay grousing heartily at railway strikes and his bad luck when a local resident asked u lull his trouble was.

The sailor poured forth his tale of woe for lie had counted on being with tiis parents within a few hours ami they were keenly anxious to meet iheir sun once more. “Go and see Bid Massey," was the advice tendered by the resident: ‘Tie'll tlx you up." Thinking this was somecue connected with the railways the suitor asked, "Where dues he live,"

•■(Hi, I'll show you,” replied his newfound pal, and away the pair went to Tii tii knri Rd., where tile Welliugtouiiiii pointed out Mr Masseys lioiise ami left the .Jack far Lo his own resources.

Jack knocks on the door and a maid appears, "is Mr Massey ini’ asks Jack. "No," replied ihe maid. "He's at the oiliee..Hut Mrs Massey is in and she will speak to you. Mrs Massey came along and greeted him, -isuing that Mr Massey was a, the oslice but would be home in a few minutes, and Use sailor coiial wail and see him. So -lack waited fur a lew minutes si ml presently the maid went by again. “Excuse me Miss, who is Mr Massey!" asked the sailor. “Oh, he's the Crime Minister," came the (to him) astounding reply from the young lady for not a word had been said to give him to understand who Mi Massey was. “Well," said the sailor to a "N.Z. Times" representative yesterday, "it gat e me such a shock 1 could have fallen through the floor. 1 had a no idea 1 had called on' the I'lime Minister. Hut 1 couldn't hack out, and a minute or two later Mr .Massey came in.”

Air Massey soon made the seaman at hoaie, and having ascertained what his diiliculties were, sail: "1 don't want any of you hoys to go hack to England without seeing your parents if they are in New Zealand. Come to my oiliee tu-nior-row morning and 1 will arrange for a pass to get y ou home." ".Jack" duly cabled at the Crime Munster's oiliee yesterday morning and as it was understood a train would leave for Napier and Gisborne at U.IU u.m.’ to-day the Railway Department issued a pass for this train. Later in the day however, it was discovered that no Napier and Gisborne train would leave until Monday morning and Jack's leave by that time will be considerably diminished. Hut Jack's resources were not at an end. lie had drawn his pay, but was not “too ilush.'’ He found that the Aard Guuipany was sending a ear to Napier leaving Wellington at b o’clock this muruing. This will reach Napier about 8 o'clock tonight, and he may or may not catch a boat from there to Gisborne lea-

viug about thill time. Ftiiliug this he will spend the night in Napier and eateli a motor ear leaving at 7.lit) on Sunday morning for Gisborne, and by midday, if all is well, he will he greeting the parents he lias not seen for .14 years.