PRINCE AT SMITHFIELD.
SURPRISE VISIT PAID. ROUND THE MEAT MARKETS, INFORMAL CHATS WITH WORKERS [from our own correspondent.] LONDON, February 24. The Prince of Wales paid a visit to the Central Markets at Smithfield early last Friday morning, The visit was in the nature of a surprise, few people having been let into the secret. Accompanied by Sir Walter Peacock, the Prince arrived at 7.30, and was received by Mr. G. J. Nicholls, chairman of the Markets Committee, and a few others. Having viewed the general work of tho market, the Prince went into details. He was first taken to the oldest of the cold stores in Long Lane. There he refused to put on the customary heavy overcoat, kept for visitors, notwithstanding the fact that the temperature was degrees below freezing point. In everything he saw the Prince took tho deepest interest, asking many questions. In conversation, the Prince learned how the meat came into Smithfield by underground railway, and he immediately asked to be taken below ground. Descending in an open lift used for meat, ho was conducted to the vast goods station beneath the market. There ho witnessed the arrival and the shunting of trains, and the railwaymen at work. He talked with many of the men who spend their hours in "semi-darkness, and declared himself greatly impressed with the completeness of tho arrangements. Coming to the surface, the Frinco, whose presence was now known to everyone in the market, was greeted with "the music of the bells," as it is called—the butchers knocking knives and choppers and bones together A cup of coffee was suggested, and the Prince, who had no overcoat, was conducted to the Cock Tavern, where " Tommy Walker," the president of the Amateur Boxing Association, is the host. | There the Prince drank coffee from one of the thick homely cups which are served to the market porters. The house was crowded, but the Prince and his party mixed with the throng, tho barman serving the coffee in the ordinary way Hero again the Prince talked to all and sundry. On the question of the business of the house itself he made inquiries, and took away with him a list of what is sold in it. Then came a visit to the " Japanese village," the familiar name of a section. The Prince was interested in consignments of Australian rabbits and Canadian chicken.
An amusing incident was tho Prince's endeavour to understand the difference between English and Scotch beef. Shown lioth kinds, ne asked: " But how do you tell?" "I do. not know," replied one of the stallholders; ■" by long experience, I suppose," After further explanation the Prince tried to tell the difference himself. " Now this," he said, pushing his finger into a side of Scotch beef, ' is English." " Oh, no," he was told, " that is Scotch." Whereat the Prince and everybody with him laughed heartily. During his tour the Prince recognised and spoke to several ex-Service men. Afterwards, the Prince went to the office of the superintendent, where he told the chairman of the Markets Committee how greatly he had been impressed by all he had seen. He said ho had visited many markets, but Smithfield was infinitely superior to anything he had ever seen before. The chairman expressed the great pleasure which all concerned in the market had experienced in receiving the Royal visitor. It was a matter <?f .pride to those responsible that the Prince's car loft the market as the clock was striking nine, as he had expressed a wish to get away at that hour. His departure was marked by a great outburst of cheering.
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19289, 30 March 1926, Page 14
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605PRINCE AT SMITHFIELD. New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19289, 30 March 1926, Page 14
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