"House-Money True"

YOU may imagine that the Rabaul native is an ignoramus but he has the banking situation in Aus tralia all nicely sized-up.

It should be explained that, in New Guinea Pidgin, banks have always been “house money true,” as distinct from the Treasury, which is merely “house money.”

The Bank of New South Wales has opened up in Rabaul, again; and one evening recently Mr. Cox, manager of the NSW at Moresby, and Mr. Hill, manager of Rabaul branch, were dining with a Rabaul resident. The host had called in his chief house-boy, for some thing; and while he was in the room he said: “Oh, this master is the new Num ber One at the bank—you savvy, house money true.” He did not think it necessary to explain to the boy the dif ference between the Commonwealth Bank, long established there, and the newly-arrived Bank of NSW he as sumed they were all one to the native.

The boy looked at Mr. Hill for a moment, and then his face lit up. “Oh, yes,” he said. “House money true. Bank of New South Wales, eh?”

He departed with a smile, leaving the two BNSW men literally gasping and wishing “that Chifley could hear that.”

Two of the happiest Friday luncheon parties given in the Wentworth Hotel, Sydney, by the Old Fijians took place in March. At the first, Sir Maynard Hedstrom and Mr. L. A. Lawlor were the principal guests; and, at the second, the guests included Messrs. Pat Costello, Len Usher, Noel Levy, M. Gray and Syd.

Coggins. A handful of veterans, led by Mr. Tommy Horne and Mr. Claude Israel, organise the Old Fijians’ luncheons; and few travelling Fijian residents who pass through Sydney escape their hospitality.