SCENES OF MISERY

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 25, 30 January 1929, Page 12

SCENES OF MISERY

PRINCE AMONG MINERS

A TOUCHING INCIDENT

Australian Press Association.

(Received 30th January, 2.15 p.m.)

LONDON, 29th January

Tlicro was a most touching incident when the Prince of Wales, in the course of his inspection of the mining districts,, visited Winlaton. The Prince went straight to tho cottage of Frank M'Kay, aged 74, who.was to have escorted him about the village. Someone said, "There has just been a death at that house." The, Prince glanced at the drawn blinds, hesitated only a moment, and entered.- M'Kay was out arranging for the funeral of his wife, who died last night. >mhe Prince saw and comforted tho weeding daughters, and accompanied them upstairs, where the dead woman was lying. Asked what was the cause of death, ono daughter answered calmly, "Starvation." :

The Prince of Wales's face was white when he left the tragic house, and he did not smile even when cheered.

M'Kay gets an. old ago pension. One son has been employed for four and a half years, and another for three years. A third has been on half-time for eighteen months.

The next house visited was that of Charles Cameron, a miner, to. whom a child had just been born, making the eleventh. The father has been unemployed for three years, and is receiving 10s weekly, plus food vouchers fcJ 18s.

At the village of Pelton Lane End, the Prince found the inhabitants in the depth of poverty. There was a dead baby in one room, and the father was without money for tho funeral.

The Prince of Wales was interested at Highspen in a girl named Catherine Hay, who said that she was going to Australia to-morrow. She said thrt she hopes to make good and be able to help her family.