KEPT HIS HAT ON

Shannon News, 22 October 1926, Page 4

KEPT HIS HAT ON

WHEN GIVEN THE OPTION A peculiar incident happened when the Acting-Prime Minister (Hon. W. D. Stewart) and several other Ministers of the Crown were receiving a deputation composed to a large extent of unemployed in the Cabinet room at the Parliamentary Buildings on Wednesday night last. One member of the deputation did not remove his hat when the proceedings commenced. No cbm men t was passed at the. time, but later there was a development ,apd one the wearer of the'hat is not likely to forget. The Acting-Prime Minister was discussing the problem of unemployment, and one view he expressed brought from the wearer of the hat a muttered: “That* no solution to the problem!" “If you. want to speak to me," returned the Acting-Prime Minister in. a calm voice, “I would remind you that you still have your hat on.” “And I’ll keep my hat on until you solve the problem,” was the man’s reply. , The Hon. W. IX Stewart: If you will not show me the courtesy I would remind you that there are ladies present. Mr R. McKeen, M.P., recommended the man to harken to fhe dictates of common decency. “Yes, take it off,” cried several members of the deputation in chorus. The wearer of the hat, however, was adamant, and when Mr Stewart again reminded him out of ■ respect to the ladies present, if lor no other reason, his course was clear, his only reply was; “I’m not affected in that way/’ , A member of the deputation rose immediately to inform the Ministers that the others present dissociated themselves from the action of the hat-wearer Mr P. Fraser, M.P.: I dont’know who he is, but I think he ought to take off his hat and act the man by doing it. (Hear, hear.) The Acting-Prime Minister: I have an important statement to make, and I don’t propose to make it -unless he takes it off, or, retires. Mr A. Qook (president of the Alliance of Labour) sharply informed the man to do one thing or the other. The hat-wearer did the other and removed himself from the room.