IN THE ROYAL STUDY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21555, 18 January 1940, Page 10

IN THE ROYAL STUDY

CHAT WITH THE KING LONDON. December 1. The King recently chatted for nearly an hour by the fireside in the Royal study at Buckingham Palace with Mr William Holmes, farm worker president of the Trades Union Congress. Conversation concerned the war, the trade-union movement, agriculture, and half a dozen other relative topics. Mr Holmes, who is also general secretary of the National Union of Agricultural Workers, described the interview later. “The King appeared to be particularly interested in agriculture and the part it has to play in the war. He knew I was a Norfolk man and asked me if I had ever visited his estate,” said Mr Holmes. “ ‘Why, yes,’ I replied. ‘I have addressed meetings of your farm workers near Sandringham. Many of your employees are members of my Union. The King laughed and we went on to talk about the conditions of farm workers. I offered the view that those engaged in agricultural industry should receive as fair treatment as those in other industries. The King nodded sympathetically and made suggestions. Sugar Beet "One of the problems of agriculture which we discussed was the sugar beet ’ industry. This is a pet subject of mine I and the King, too. is keenly interested [ in it. Sugar beet is grown on his Norfolk estate. “Then we talked about the tragedy

of waj’. This war, I said, has to be won, and I explained to the King the work of the Trades Union Congress in its co-operation with the Government. He asked Innumerable questions and showed a real human interest in our work.”

Mr Holmes is the first T.U.C. president to meet the King In that capacity.