The Royal Family

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29748, 15 February 1962, Page 3

The Royal Family

i Sir. —It is such a pity that ,so few of your correspondents are of a practical bent. | What does it matter whether [the Royal yacht costs £40,000 |a week, or whether 20 nui clear physicists could be paid | with the money it costs to I refurnish Princess Margaret’s I boudoir? What people forget I time and time again is that [ Royalty is a very good in- ■ vestment for Britain. Their I upkeep money is a mere drop in the bucket compared with that brought in by tourists, especially at such times as the Coronation, and Princess Margaret’s wedding. My personal suspicion is that all this controversy is being stirred up by the British newspapers, which have also found out that there is plenty of money in Royalty.—Yours, etc.,

SIMON NATHAN. February 13, 1962.

Sir. —Not only is the British monarchy redundant, land an unnecessary drain on ! the taxpayer, but it is also obstructing the path to true democracy. No country can claim to be a true democracy unless all its leaders have been elected by democratic [means. Yet Britain and her Dominions recognise as their I head of State a Queen who (holds a position which is not .electives"but hereditary, 'irue, she may be just a decorative 'figurehead, but the fact remains that she is still our head of State —whether we I like it or not. The people of Britain may wish to cling to I this remnant of medievalism; but there is nothing to stop New Zealand from getting in step with other progressive nations by declaring itself a republic. By doing this the people would be able to elect a president, or head of State, of their ofvn choice. —Yours, etc..

J. HARLOW February 13, 1962.

Sir, —“Republican” is quite correct when he writes “Future historians will regard I this phenomenon with amused ’incredulity,” but he is wrong in applying it to the (limited monarchies of Europe, especially to that of Britain .Where he should have applied : the thought was to the worship by millions in a great republic in the North American continent of four-times-married film actresses who are little more than legalised prostitutes, yet who can draw larger crowds often than stable royalty who help to give continuity of government in their respective States That the bust, waist and hip measurements of some star, of the movie world should interest millions is indeed a phenomenon. Then, too, mil. [ lions troop to view Lenin’s tomb, but one does not hear of road blocks in Britain bv those worshipping the bones of David II of Scotland, or [ Elizabeth of England, or for that matter those of Lloyd George, a war-time Prime Minister. —Yours, etc., STABILITY. February 13. 1962.