PERSONAL CONTACT

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 1 February 1929, Page 9

PERSONAL CONTACT

THE PRINCE’S MISSION.

VISIT TO COALFIELDS. PITIABLE SCENES WITNESSED. (United l’ress Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) - (Australian Press Association.) Received 2 p.m. to-day. LONDON, Jim. 31. • ‘Surely this is bedrock,” said the Prince- ox Wales when viewing hovels where lived unemployed miners surrounded by barefooted children. Nothing appealed more deeply and impressed the Prince to a greater extent than the squalor of the miners’ houses. There was a touching incident when, amid a crowd of workless people at Jarrow, a sightless old woman pleaded: “Just let me touch him.” The Prince of Wales overheard the remark, and asked tlie crowd to make a gangway so that lie could shake hands with her.

He inspected a party of Durham boys who are going tp Australia. He said: “I am delighted you are going to New South Wales, aud wish you the best of luck.”

Recieved 2.30 p.iii., t-o-day. RDGBY, Jan. 31. The Prince of Wales for • the third day in succession visited the distressed areas in the northern coalfields. To the Mayor of Durham he expressed, -with obvious emotion, liis opinion on ,wliat he had seen during his tour. He said: ‘‘l have been deeply touched -by tlie bravery, patience and hope of all these poor people. It is very difficult to know what to do to solve this most pressing problem. I am sure, however, things will be lighted, but I am afraid it must talc© time. “People I nave met during this tour could not have been nicer to me personally. It was wonderful.”