ROYAL SHOPPERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22988, 16 March 1938, Page 19

ROYAL SHOPPERS

yjSIT TO THE FAIR

BRITISH INDUSTRIES

/ MANY SIMPLE PURCHASES

KING GEORGE'S BRIGHT JESTS

[racM our own correspondent] LONDON. Feb. '26 «1 used to f.sh for those follows," gaid Ki"S George with a reminiscent m ile when ho was shown a. 141b. rainbow trout in the New Zealand stand gt the Earl's Court, section oi the British Industries Fair. "That reminds me vividly of my stay in Kotorua." His Jlajcstv asked a number of questions about, present conditions in the Dominion. The King spent two hours touring thi6 part of the Fair, and appeared to enjoy himself thoroughly, turning repeatedly to shaye a joke with tho Earl of Derby, who accompanied him. The /• lloval party paused at a stand where a waterproof coat was being demonstrated in a realistic downpour of "rain." the effect of which was contrived by mirrors. The male demonstrator stood te attention when ho saw the King, and removed his hat. "Rain" Not Effective "That rain looks effective," said Lord Derby. "1 wonder if it is real;-'" "I don't think so." said the King. "He lnio taken, his hat ofl !" At another stand a woman was demonstrating the water-resisting properties of a material. Water—real watei this time— dripped on her.

"I hope that i.s warm water," exclaimed the King—and he joined in the laughter lvhen she replied wistfully, "No." Au amusing incident occurred when the inventor of a new kind of sock, requiring no suspender, took up his position on a gangway with a cardboard box under h>s arm and awaited the King's approach. Suddenly, he found himself surrounded by police, and there was a moment of intense expectation a« they demanded to see the contends of the box. The inventor whipped off the lid, disclosed two pairs of his socks, and explaincc) that the Queen had especially ordered them for t!tie Kinu during her visit earlier in the week.

When, finally, the presentation of the socks was accomplished, the inventor iolfl the King what had happened. Ihe King roared with laughter when the nature of the suspected "bomb" was revealed to him. Penalty lor Shielding "Bomb" "If you will stand about with a box," His Majesty told the inventor with a laugh, "you must expect to be collared."

The Queen anil Queen Mary paid another visit to the Olympiu section of the Fair on the fourth day, each spending four'' hours there and making many purchases, including handbags, travelling bags, wallets, jugs, tea Bets, dressing cases, picnic sets, work boxes, cigarette boxes, mirrors, Btools and coffee spoons. Queen Mtiry's purchases included no fewer than 78 teapots. The Queen was much interested in a new kind of picnic set, containing knives, forks, plates and flasks, suitable for either lunch or tea. Her Majesty tested the weight of the set herself, an J ordered one, remarking: "That will be just the thing when we pant to go ori a picnic in Scotland." Something at Lower Price

When tho Queen was shown a gentleman's wallet, made of ostrich skin and priced at 3£ls, Her Majesty asked to see something at a lower price—"something within the reach of th<? man in the street, please." Wallets at 6s fid each were produced, and the Queen / ordered a dozen.

A few minutes later Queen Mary arrived at th<3 same stand. Her Majesty, too, asked ip see some wallets, "within the reach of the average purchaser," and added, "at about 3s 6d." Wallets at 3s Cd were produced and Queen Mary, in turn, ordered a dozen. The Queen was meanwhile turning her attention to ladies' hardbags nt a neighbouring stand. "Nothing expensive, please." Her Majesty said. "Just something ;hat any woman can carry and not fe;l 'that she lias spent too much in buying it." Her Majesty eventually chost: a bag which had a lipstick container inside it, made of camel grain calf in a shade called "London tan." A Mystery Solved The Queen spoke for some time with *n old man who makes model boats and places them in bottles. When he explained 1 is methods the Queen was greatly surprised, and exclaimed, "Do Jon know,/this has always been rather a mystery to me. I always thought that the bottle was built round the ship somehow."

Alien Her Majesty bought; a "lastminute bag," intended for 1 ig;ht travel, the Queen observed with a snile, "Now, nobody is going to coax this awav from Die I wam; to keep it for myself."