PUT YOUR BUTTONS ON.

Shannon News, 22 May 1923, Page 3

PUT YOUR BUTTONS ON.

TELEGRAM FOR A TAILOR

RACING CODE (SUSPECTED

Mr George Fear, Wanganui Borough Traffic Inspector, now wears a brand-new uniform and peaked cap, as the outward symbol of office and notification of the authority he 'wields in seeing the traffic within 'the. borough of W'.ingaimi is conducted in accordance with the by-laws. The sSTfT uni tornii was indireclly the cause of a 1 very'amusing inxiuerit at the Palmerston North Post Office on Friday. It happened thus. When the Borough Council recently decided that the traffic official should be suitably garbed, the inspector placed an order lor liis unfonnii with a local tailor, and then went away on a. holiday. Some difficulty was .experienced in getting the particular kind of buttons necessity .for the coat, and Mr Fear decided by arrangement with the tailor, to try and procure them while in Palmerston North. In this endeavour, however, he was unsuccessful, and ns he wanted the uniform to wear while controlling race traffic on Saturday, he went to the Palmerston North Rost Office and handed in a telegram which read: , tailor, Wanganui —Put- your o’wn buttons on ■ f omt."

“We can’t take that,” said the UaU mers'on North official at the Ufiegraph counter.

“Why?” asked the surprised inspector. ‘•IPs a racing code,” said the cieik in tones of decision. “Look here! I'm not going to he icoled round like this,” said the prospective wearer of the new uniform.. “isn’t there a horse' named 'Uniform running?” inquired the clerk suspiciously. • “Well.” lie added, menacingly, the telegram will go at your own risk.” The telegram did go, the local tailor received it, the buttons were duly affixed, and the appearance- of the inspector in the Avenue, last evening tiv give the new uniform a try out made people look twice to decide whether it was the superintendent .of(the suburban fire brigade, a wharfinger, m a new policeman in town for the

The best part of tlie joke is Unit Mr Fear is not addicteil to the lasrinaling pastime of picking winners.