PRINCE’S TOUR

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 1 February 1929, Page 5

PRINCE’S TOUR

HELPING STRICKEN MINERS.

PRESS FEATURES CAMPAIGN.

MANY TOUCHING INCIDENTS iREVEALED. (United Press Association—By Electric Tel<-gm[ih Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) LONDON, Jan. 29 Newspapers are reporting the tour of the Prince of Wales) in the coalfields impartially and at .great length. The-' “Morning Post,” one of the mos-t outspoken opponents of the miners- ’political movement in the past, nevertheless features the tour, which it describes as being of an 1 unbroken chain of poverty ancl distress in -strick - en coalfields.” Other -papers display the story c: the touir with double column headlines and many photographs- The tour will -unquestionably speed a ©lief andi will certainly hearten the sufferers. Some of the Prince’s comments yesterday were caustic. He was shown the paysheets of a gang of men, and observed, it seemed, as though they were worse off when working than if unemp.oyed. When toiid that certain houses I,ponged to the colliery, -and! people lanaluted them rent free, he said it tvas the best that could- be -said' about them. Sitting in rickety chairs the Prince questioned wives tow they managed- on £1 or £1 10s a week. More than once he -left cottage® with an angry look. In fact it is evident that the tom- is most painful to the Prince, who several times had immediate relief given in the nature of food and clothing. . Seldom did the people realise that their visitor was the Prince until he told them so. Sometimes he waited until a complete list of necessities had been made out before moving on. ‘■Wouldn’t you be happier am Australia?” the Prince asked -Sarah Wee, aged 16. Australia is a wonderful country. I have been there ancl know now good life can be. Don’t you -think you would be happier there?” Sarah, 'looked across the road at her poor little home- and shook her head sadlly. “How is your dad?”- asked a Mrs Stewart at Seaton Burn, where twothirds of the male population are idle. “Getting on as well as can be expected, thank you,” replied thePnnoe. “Many of us h-ave oeen praying for him and! the Queen,” said Mrs Stewart. A terrier called Shot gave the Prince a lively reception -at a house nearby. “Bless you, that is only his friendliness,” said Airs Cooke. “He i® a good dog, but 1 am, afraid -he must go because I have no money to pay tor a license.” , T ,„ r The Prince spoke to the Lord Mayor of Newsastle, who handed over a ten shilling note, thus reprieving Shot. Everywhere the Prince ox Wa-lcs inquired of the earnings o-r amounts of relief on which families were subsisting, and his'most frequent remark was „at this- its simply incredible.” The Prince has even called at small shops, sometimes making a pretext to purchase - cigarettes, no ask how the people are xairing -and to express his •sympathy with traders. He lunched on cold beef .-and salad at an hotel in the mining’ town of Ashington.