Queen Visits Poppy Factory

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 280, 27 November 1939, Page 2

Queen Visits Poppy Factory

AND TALKS WITH DISABLED SOLDIERS The Queen paid her first visit to the British Legion poppy factory on Richmond Hill early in Nevember, when she talked with many disabled workers, and congratulated Sir I redrick Maurice, president of the legion, on the efficiency of the productions. Visiting the showroom, Sir Fredrick Maurice gave the Queen some recent facts about Poppy Day. There are 400 disabled men working in the factory all with an average disability of 75 per cent. Over 250,000 poppies have been sent to the British troops and Air Force in France, and all His Majesty's ships have had supplies already sent to them. This year for the first time the police will be allowed to wear a poppy. Her Majesty described as a “blaze of colour ” the large wreaths, and learned that an increase in the demand for these would mean an increase in the number of men employed. Over 300 disabled men are waiting to be absorbed. She was the work of making the various kinds of poppy from the start to finish. The shilling size is the most popular with the men because 400 of these can be made in the same time that it takes to make 4000 of the 3d

The Queen frequently stopped to speak with the men, asking what regiments they had been in and whether they liked their work. Her Majesty was interested in the foliage used in the wreaths, and was told that now the wreaths are 100 per cent British. The camellia leaves, which used to be imported, have been replaced by leaves cut from heavy Manila paper specially treated and dyed. The Queen daw the machines at work on the cutting out of red lawn in 36 thicknesses and the machines at work on the veining of the leaves and the stamping out of the centres. Having seen process after process, The Queen said she had no idea that the final assembling of the poppies was the conclusion of such a lengthy series of processes. The Queen stopped for a while to sec the King’s wreath being assembled and the giant poppies which she had seen being made being put in place. The regimental badge is a favourite form of wreath. When the Boyal ear left Ike factory it was seen that the Queen had had one of the triple mascot poppies for cars fixed on the bonnet. She was also carrying a bouquet of poppies and maidenhair fern. Owing to the war, the War Disabled Ex-Bervicemen's Exhibition, which is usually held every November at the Imperial Institute, has had to be cancelled, and the work of the 24 ex-ser-vicemen’s organisations which it represents is endangered. The Queen has sent a message to Major-General Sir John Kennedy, chairman or War Disabled Ex-Service-men’s Industries, expressing her regret the cancellation of the exhibition;

She intends, however, to visit the Lord Boberts Workshops to buy Christmas presents, as she has done in the past. Bealising that the cancellation of the exhibition will result in a loss of revenue, Her Majesty is confident that the supporters will do their best to ensure that tho loss is not too great bv buying gifts at the workshop.