“WILL” CROOKS AND KING EDWARD

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7419, 22 April 1911, Page 9

“WILL” CROOKS AND KING EDWARD

In the course of a lecture at Fulhatt Town Hall in February, Mr XVilLCroots, tho well-known Labour member/ (saya the “Daily Telegraph”), related an in-to-resting re m inLsc-cuee of Iviug Edward* whom he described a.s not oilly- a King, but the -per.sum al friend .of every-body- to the Empire. 1 It was characteristic, of tho English ltoya.l family always' .to , mak» th'ose with whom - they- came into contact at home. The Jatc JCing Edward was a very good, friend to him: on ninny occoeions in matters he. could not mention. "I was once at n Court function (continued Mr Crooks),. when King Edward suddenly turned to mo amd, said, ‘Hero is the JCing of Siam; have you: spoken to him?’. -No,’ I replied, ‘X: have not been introduced to him.’.’ King Edward said, ‘He knows a good deal abo-irt; Europe an politics.' ‘Oh, that may be/ I replied, 'but does he know anything, about Siamese politics?’ ‘God knows; X don’t," said King -Edward,, and we had, a, good laugh together at the King’s little joke. Many people, in fact, wantedi to know what was -tins ‘cracker’ 1 had told tho King. X was unable to- mention what was the cause of dur laughter until now, when both the King of Siam and. King Edward are dead.” , , : -v : .