CITY TO NO LONGER PAY THE WIZARD OF CHISTCHURCH
The Christchurch, New Zealand City Council has notified the town Wizard that, after more than two decades on the public payroll to “provide acts of wizardry” for the city, his services will no longer be needed. The Wizard of New Zealand, also known as Ian Channell, said the council had decided to stop paying him $16,000 a year because he did not fit with the modern image of the city. His job was to do promotional work for the city of Christchurch, making public appearances, casting spells and so forth. Council assistant chief executive Lynn McClelland said they sent him a letter thanking him for his services to Christchurch over the past decades. The Wizard, however, said he would keep up his regular appearances at Christchurch’s Arts Centre, chatting to tourists and locals. “It makes no difference,” he said. “They will have to kill me to stop me.”
* They’ll probably reconsider after he turns all the town’s children into frogs.
* They could kill him, but I have a feeling just cutting off the paycheck will do the trick for this freeloader.
* So he can keep wizarding on his own nickel.
* Aw, man. And he just bought a new pointy hat.
* A wizard did not fit with the modern image of the city. They’re modernizing and going with a town alchemist.
