ROYALTY IN WALES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23029, 5 May 1938, Page 5

ROYALTY IN WALES

MINING AREAS VISITED QUEEN MARY'S INTEREST PROBLEM OF UNEMPLOYMENT [from our own correspondent] LONDON, April 9 During her stay with the Earl and Countessi of Plymouth at St. Fagan's Castle, near Cardiff, Queen Mary paid a visit, to Pontypridd, in the Uhonddft Valley, where there is still more than 30 per cent unemployment. At the Y.M.C.A. building she helped in the distribution of parcels of clothing to the unemployed and among those who received their parcels from the Queen's hands was Mrs. Brown, who, at the age of 92, is the oldest inhabitant of Pontypridd. Her parcel contained a counterpane. It was Mrs. Brown's second meeting with .Royalty, for she said afterward that she remembered how, as a girl in an orphanage at Bristol, she had met Queen Victoria. Leaving the Y.M.C.A., Queen Mary paid a surprise visit to the Tralhvn Unemployed Club,' where she was presented with a walking stick of inlaid woods made by one of the men at the club. "I wish you all luck," was her parting message to them. The first Royal visitor for 600 years to the mining town of Maesteg, Queen Mary received a cheering welcome when she went to call at the stone cottage of Mr. Taliesin Howells, a miner, who has been out of work for seven years. On entering the scrupulously clean little living room, Queen Mary's first remark was: "Everything looks remarkably comfortable." Asking one of the children her name, and learning that it was Mair, Queen Mary exclaimed: "Ah, you have my name in Welsh!" She commented on the healthy look of the children, but added: "Tommy must grow up a bit, v mustn't he?" She asked Mr. Howells how much a week he received in unemployment pay. When he told her that it totalled £2 os she asked: "And can you manage on that?" "Yes, your Majesty—just scrape along," was the reply.

Tucking appears on many different types of clothes this season. This graceful model has a panel of tucks (on the wrong side), which spreads a gentle fullness over the figure giving a softness to very clinging lines. Tucking also creates the design of the long full cloak.