GETTING A MOVE ON.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 107, 9 May 1927, Page 6

GETTING A MOVE ON.

A GOVERNMENT SOUVENIR.

The "Star's" Souvenir booklet descriptive of the recent Royal tour through New Zealand appeared some weeks ago, and the Government is shortly issuing one of its own. Presently that pilgrimage of Their Royal Highnesses will be a matter of comparatively remote history. But there was a previous Royal visitor of which some of our old folks may have recollections—the Prince of Wales, as far back as 1921, wasn't it? An eminent New Zealand journalist and publicist, Dr. Scholefield, then just back from London, was appointed to accompany H.R.H. and write a book about the tour through the Dominion. Dr. Sclio.lefield did his job with prompt efficiency, and handed in his '"copy" to the Government. He then carried on the job of editing a newspaper for some years, and for the last year or so he has been Parliamentary librarian. " Now someone in the Government has discovered that the Wales book has been in the State Printing Office ever since going through the customary mysterious processes preliminary to official publication. It is expected that it will be released—popular film trade phrase—any day now.

The authorities, however, are alleged to entertain some doubts as to whether the act of suddenly springing the story on the world just now would not seriously mix up the public's dates and historical sense. It is a question whetherf it would not be expedient (seeing that the public knows nothing of this State secret yet) to keep it in suspense in the Printing Office until the Prince pays us his promised visit for swordfisliing some time between now and 1930. It might be n graceful tribute to His Royal Highness to bring it out as a kind of "scoop" souvenir just as he sets foot on New Zealand soil once more. It would at any rate go to show that lie had not been forgotten, and also would indicate that when the authorities once set their minds to anything in a determined spirit they'll get it done, regardless of old Father Time's saunter. —PUKAPUKA.