PICTURES OF ROYALTY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12826, 27 July 1912, Page 2 (Supplement)

PICTURES OF ROYALTY.

AN OFFICIAL FAILURJS

'"■■ - ■ ■■ ■ LONDON, May 24. An effort made by some officials of the \Var '(jffice to~display' their business ability m - connection with the visit Of the King and ' Queen to the military manoeuvres at Aldershot lias resulted iv «ii failure. It is customary for photographers representing- the' newspapers apid cinematograph companies to get pictures of their Majesties when they appear m public, and it occurred to the War Office officials that the privilege of photograpliing the Royal party at Aldershot should be made' to yield revenue, instead of being given away gratis. Therefore, ..when the photographers formally applied for permission to attend the manoeuvres they were told it had been decided to limit the permits to two, and those would be given to the Ijrms ■pfferm.g the lughest contributions to the funds of the Aldershot General Charities Association. A number of v photographers attended without permits, but the military police kept them on the move, and they did not obtain very successful pictures. : One photographer, Mr Walker, fixed his camera on a tripod arid refused to leave. He was tlierefore arrested on a charge, of being an intruder on War Department land. The case was heard at the Farnham .police court, and although the presiding 1 justice -was •a- retired col : oriel a- verdict was given against the )Var Department.- -The Military Lands Act provides that the* Secretary of S.tate for War may [make by-laws for regulat-. ing the use of the land for the purpose \o which it is appropriated, and for the prohibiting of all intrusion, on the land and all obstruction m its use. The Bench, .taking into consideration the fact that the occasion was a public one, and that large numbers of the public w;ere. present, did not regard defendant as an intruder, or as causing an obstruction.; .. Royalty and the photographers. It is fairly certain that the action of the military authorities, was m no way (he outcome of a desire of the King to restrict th opportunities of the photo graphers. The policy of his Majesty has been to extend the concessions m this direction, 'not to restrict them. During , the reign of' King Edward the fight of photographing Royalty was restricted to one firm, Which made, a very frood revenue iYoni it. The King always fefu'sed applications for sittings from other high class photography firms, but on public occasions representatives of the newspapers .were allowed to . take photographs. ■" King George lias broken down this' photographic monopoly, and has giv^n;^sittings to several leading photographers m London. In connection, /with the Coronation procession, he Arranged that the ■ photographer s," and particularly the ririeraatograph men, should have a stand reserved where they .could*. obtain goo,d pictures. There Is an evident intention on the part of his Majesty to satisfy the public desire for 'spectacular views of' Royalty. This became noticeable m -connection with the peath of the Duke of Fife, and morerecently m connection, with, the death of King' Frederick of Denmark. ".

j • It Was expected that- 'these events would result m the postponement of all Royal; engagements, owing to .the .Court being m mourning, but m. each case very few engagements were postporiecT. An extensive' period of/ Courts mourning has a very serious : effect. on business m London, .papticularly .during the society and .the disposition of his 'Majesty to curtail tlie formalities of the .Court *iit -the "interests of the" large num-" ber of 'people - whose business or liveli-' hood is -seriously affected byrdepressionhas. certainly. ,, added to his , popularity among 'his subjects.'' ■'*' "'.■■:■