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Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 40022, 12 November 1929, Page 4

Aberdeen's monopoly of the Scottish joke industry is threatened, there being- a distinct challenge tli'oni Otago. In telling- of the popularity of the Railway Department’s hired pillows on the long distance trains, the New Zealand Railways Magazine records: “A member of the Scots community at Dunedin booked for the first time by the ‘Night Express’ to Christchurch recently. Shortly after the journey commenced the train attendant went through the ordinary carriages with a supply of these pillows. ‘How much?’ asked the Dunedin man. ‘One shilling,’ was the reply. ‘l’ll take three,’ said M'Tavish instantly. 'This rather staggered the attendant, so he diffidently asked why there were wanted by one man. ‘Can’t we keep them?*’ said M‘Tavish.” The' above is cruel enough, hut the Railway Magazine editor is ruthless. He goes on to picture M'Tavish 'buying a holiday excursion ticket at a southern railway station, whereupon the following dialogue takes place between the ticket-seller and the Scot. Ticketsellelr: “Faiiiie? Yes. Change at Tim&ru, sir.” Scot: “Na, na, laddie, I’ll no wait —l’ll ha'e it noo.” #

Banking tales were the vogue driving the informal portion of a farewell function to Mr. l-\ S. Seamon, retiring manager df the National Bank at 'Napier, and naturally most of these narratives conct mod overdrafts. One story concerned a native who approached his bank manager, but was refused an overdraft. On the Maori being persistent the manager said that if the native could pick which was his glass eye lie would grant tho request. The Maori nominated the correct eve at the first guess, and on being asked by the manager how he managed it, he remarked: “Well, that eye was the only one with any sympathy in it.” Another story concerned a business man who ask - ed for an “How much do you want?” asked the .manager. “How much have you got?” replied his client,