QUEEN BUYS DISH WASHER

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27612, 19 March 1955, Page 2

QUEEN BUYS DISH WASHER

Interest In N.Z.-Made Machine PURCHASE AT LONDON EXHIBITION (From. Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, March 18. A dish-washing machine made in Wellington has been installed in the kitchen of the Queen’s private apartments in Buckingham Palace. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh saw the machine on the New Zealand stand at the “Ideal Homes’’ exhibition in London recently, and bought it on the s P£tThe man who demonstrated the: machine and sold it was Mr Jack Cotterill, formerly of Napier. Dish-washing machines similar tothat bought by the Queen have beer.; on sale in New Zealand for many I years. In recent years the manufacturers in Wellington have developed 1 a steadily growing export market, and two years and a half ago Mr Cot- : terill was sent to London. While Mr Cotterill was demon- j strating the machine at the “Ideal: Homes’* exhibition, the Queen walked up, and showed immediate interest. “H** B is .an Australian product,’’l said an official who was accompanying i the Queen. One of Mr Cotterill’s‘col- | leagues stepped forward quickly, and | said: “Your Majesty, I am proud to' say this product originated in New Zealand.’’ After calling the Duke from an adjoining stand, the Queen watched a demonstration. “Will it get egg off plates?” asked the Duke. The Queen asked whether fragile articles, such as glasses and fine china, could be washed in the machine. The Royal couple were reassured on these points, and were told the machine would wash and dry dishes after a three-course meal for eight person*. “It’s a pity it won't do saucepans,” said the Duke. “Oh yes, it will,” replied Mr Cotten IL “Then it’s just what we want. I’ll! have one,” said the Duke, turning! to his equerry (Commander Michael! Parker) and asking him to complete! the formalities. Commander Parker | was with the Duke on his New Zealandi tour.