money and almost everybody but Milt disappeared into the meeting. Now here was a subject that had plunged all fandom into war for a while although not much was heard about it in Australia apart from what Andy Porter had printed, the LACON financial statement and the argument between Ted White and Milt in "Passing Parade". Milt wasn't going to go into the discussion, he was sick of it and anyhow no matter what was decided he'd get abused for it. It was fortunate that Milt was not going to get involved for our sakes,we would not have learned much £rom sitting in on the meeting since most people would know all the background, and from Milt we heard it (Milt's side anyhow). Gradually others lost intesest in the proceedings and drifted out, our chatter became more generalised, mainly what people thought of Ted White which I found amusing since we would most likely be sleeping at his house in a few days time. I'm sure Ted could have been just as complimentary to them if I'd asked his opinion. Things were progressing enjoyably when the meeting room door burst open and somebody I'd not noticed be£oxe stormed out and confronted Milt. An argument began with some comment that Robert Heinlein would resign from LASFS and the words "I know your price Milt Stevens". In a burst of inspiration itoccurred to me that this stranger had to be the legendary Jerry Pournelle. The lines that the argument took escape me but this is not to say that I didn't enjoy it, mainly because (after all my years in fandom) it was the first time I'd witnessed a stand up argument with tempers flaring and voices raised, There might be something to be said for the friendly sort of fandom that exists in Australia where hardly anybody argues out loud, but I never realised what excitement I was missing. Tactically speaking the argument was simple, Jerry was doing most of the talking in a loud powerful voice and slowly backing Milt around the room. Milt was trying to disengage himself and raising his voice occasion- ally to try and make a point. Spectators gathered around the walls but the centre of the room was left clear £or the two combatants to move around in. Occasionally one or the other would look in the direcCion of Valma or I as if soliciting support for their cause, my sympathies lay with Milt mainly but we really couldn't come out on either side. After about twenty minutes, it seemed much longer, the steam had gone out of the argument though it still continued and Valma and I fell into conversatfon with the person who had earlier been talking about the navy with Milt. He had a powerful personality and talking to him we moved from subject to subject rapidly, comparisons between America and Australia (though he seemed to know more about his country tha n I knew about mine), LASFS, fandom, science fiction, writing and so on and on. Somewhere in there we got to discussing personalities snd I don't remember how it came up but he asked me if I knew who he was. I confessed that I didn't know his name but it was obviously he who had made such an impression on Bill Wright that when he returned from LACON in 1972 he had a lot to say about him. I was right and he remembered Bill from the Niven party they'd met at, his name was Frank Gasperik as a matter of interest. The entertainment part of the programme was to be filk singing, something that interested me since we have none in Australia, probably because none of the fans play guitars or sing. An unusual state of sffairs, but... WrIe made our way to the meeting room but there was nothing hapPening yet so we continued on out the front door where a small crowd had gathered. We were invited to the Niven's to play poker, Bruce Pelz explained the rules which would have horrified me normally at the amounts of money that could be wagered. Still, we were loaded down with lots of DUFF money and it would have been forgivable to squander some with the prospect of being able to write about it in this report. Bruce also wsved a cheque book and said he had some money £or DUFF and he could write me out a cheque right then. I asked him how much and he named a staggering amount. A couple of considerations lept to mind; firstly the cheque for $800 from Fred Patten which I hadn't been able to cash and secondly the great wad of travellers cheques I was still carrying. And also the looming temptation of the Nivens poker table. I did a dumb thing, I told him to send the money to Lesleigh. Oh folly; Never turn dowa money when it's offered. We were 18