Spoof Fooled Dame Zara Bate

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32336, 30 June 1970, Page 3

Spoof Fooled Dame Zara Bate

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) | SYDNEY, June 29. Dame Zara Bate, the Widow of the former ■ Australia Prime Minister, Harold Holt, has admitted that she had been the victim of a Royal hoax. Dame Zara, who remarried after the death of her husband, said she had been tricked into printing a letter which spoofed the Royal Family in the problems column I she writes for the Sydney: ■ “Daily Mirror.” i “It never occurred to me the letter wasn’t genuine,” she said. The letter, signed by a “Mrs E.R.”, told of the problems of a wandering husband and two difficult elder children. It read:— “I am a mother of four children and can’t help feeling my marriage is a failure. “My eldest son was found drinking at 13. My eldest daughter swears in public causing me great embarrassment. She has also been hanging round with a hippie J crowd who go to lewd stage! shows. “I have often told her her: skirts are too short, but she; says people appreciate them! that length. “My husband has to travel; a lot because of his job. Even when he is home he spends; most of his time following the] horses and getting into argu-i ments with. strangers. “He swears in front of the; children and I fear my young-i est boys will pick up the!

|habit. Now he says he is not; I getting enough money and we; should sell our lovely home.: ! “I’m worried that if we doj , he will leave us to go back ; to his home in Greece. “Should 1 leave this man : before it is too late?—Mrs E.R.” Dame Zara advised “Mrs E.R.” to seek the help of the Social Services Department.