AN AMUSING STORY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2773, 31 March 1910, Page 6

AN AMUSING STORY.

LORD PLUNKET AND HOME

RULE. In responding to the toast of his health at the luncheon. tendered in his honor bv the Mount Hutt Road Board, at Methven (says the Christchurch “Press”), his Excellency the Governor, referring to the dairying potentialities of the district, recalled an amusing experience he had in Ireland, when, with others, -he was endeavoring to establish co-operative dairy factories. Lord Plunke-t prefaced his narrative with the explanation that he did not -tell the story to indicate the bitter partisan feeling existing between the two parties in Ireland. He thanked God . that since the time he spoke of that bitterness had almost disappeared, -and that Ireland was now far more prosperous. His Excellency said that at a -meeting of farmers called to consider the establishment of a co-operative factory, all appeared to he going well until one of the audience asked if he could put two or three questions to Lord Plunket. “First of all,” said the questioner, “are you a landlord?’’ to which Lord Plunket replied .that he was, but that his land was some 300 -miles from where the meeting was being held. The next question was : “Are you a Protestant? 7 ’ Lord Plunket tried -to parry the question by remarking that it did not matter whether or not the cows wore Protestants or Catholics. To the third question Lord Plunket answered “Well, no, I cannot say,l am for Home Rule.” “Listen to me, boys,” said the questioner. “A landlord, a Protestant, and against Home Rule. Out you go !’ —(laughter) —find they all went out. But subsequently the factory was duly established.