Duke Of Edinburgh Member Of Union

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29745, 12 February 1962, Page 11

Duke Of Edinburgh Member Of Union

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) MARACAIBO (Venezuela), February 11. The Duke of Edinburgh told labour union leaders at Maracaibo yesterday that he was “a member of a union, but I won’t say which one.”

He also told a native of British Guiana who asked him not to give the colony independence, “Listen, that depends on you, not on me,”

the Associated Press reported. The Duke personally flew his turbo-prop plane from Caracas to Maracaibo on his South American tour. It was while the Duke was talking with members of the Municipal Council and labour union leaders that the man. who identified himself as Robert Frank, a native of British Guiana, approached and spoke to him. "What do you do?” asked the Duke.

“I am a pianist,” replied Frank, who then said, “Don’t give British Guiana independence. Don’t give it to them.’’ Listeners assumed he meant the Government of Dr. Cheddi Jagan. “That depends on you, not on me,” the Duke retorted, turning away. The Duke asked labour leaders about wages, union organisation and whether there were closed shops in some industries. That was when he said “at home I am a member of a union but I won’t say which one.”