ROYAL CARRIAGE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18398, 16 May 1934, Page 14

ROYAL CARRIAGE

VICTORIAN CONTROVERSY ESTIMATE OF COST MELBOURNE, May 5. The bombshell of the change of princes dropped into the middle of an interesting little squabble concerning the use of the old Victorian State carriage, -which was brought to this country 45 years ago by Lord Hopetoun (afterwards the first GovernorGeneral), when ho arrived as Governor of AGctoria. The carriage, after several vicissitudes, became the property of the Federal Government, and has been kept in good repair. The carriage is in the care of the Defence Department, and recently, at the request of the Prime Minister’s Department, an estimate was furnished by the Defence authorities of the cost' of using it on the occasion of the Royal visit. It was about £3OOO. Apparently under the impression that this sum was the cost of making available the carriage for one short journey on tho day of the Prince’s arrival, the Lord Mayor of Melbourne condemned the estimate scathingly, and tho Premier also said that such an expense was out of ; the question. Tho Lord Alayor said that horses could be obtained privately, and subsequently announced that the Police Department would supply horses if necessary. The Minister for Defence, Sir George Pearce, in reply, defended the figures, and gave details. It appeared that the cost of providing two State carriage and one landau, with personnel and 20 horses, for use at official functions during the Australian visit, was £2535, with £SOO extra if it were necessary to provide facilities in Sydney and Canberra. To maintain one carriage and oue landau in Melbourne for one month would cost about £IOOO. So there the matter stands at time of writing. There appears to be on record, however, a promise by the Prime Minister to. make tho carriage available free of charge for the principal ceremonials if the Victorian authorities supply the horses, so probably this course will be adopted.