THE PRINCE WITH THE BUTCHERS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 April 1926, Page 1

THE PRINCE WITH THE BUTCHERS.

COFFEE AT A TAVERN. LONDON, Feb. 20. Ihe Prince ol M ales paid a surprise visit to the. Central Meat .Market, iSmithtield, yesterday morning. He arrived at 7.30 a.in., and before 8.30 and had explored Smilhlield above ground ami below, and was drinking coflee at the bar of the Cock Tavern, surrounded by porters anil salesmen, who were having their breakfast. At 9 o’clock lie stepped into his car and drove away. It was a very informal visit and only the officials knew lie was coming. At one time be was to be seen inspecting the shop of Mr Hart, walking arm-in-arm between Mr Hart, and Mr .Millman, the superintendent of the market. ''What’s the price of this a pound;-'” asked the Prince on seeing a piece of Scottish ribs of beef, and ho closely inspected the joints which had been cut up ready for sale to housewives, lie examined the joints which only the poorest people buy, compared the difference between shoulders of mutton and lamb, and wanted to know which joint was the most economical. MEAT I JET RIDE. lie was much surprised at the underground Smilhlield, which consists of a railway station into which run trains bringing meat from all parts of the Kingdom. The Prince went down in the meat lift—a platform without, sides—inspected the refrigerator trucks, and the carcases of sheep and veal, and returned the same way. A. cheering crowd waited for him and accompanied him on his tour. Several porters pushed through to the front and shook him by the hand. At tlie stall of Messrs Dean and Hatton lie met ex-Regimbntai Sergt.-Major •Singer, who recalled the I act that in “Death Valley” during the war he lent the Prince Id's map. “And I hope you got it hack,” said the I’riuce. laugliA Mother ex-Servicc man presented was Mr \Y. P. Hall, an old Scots Guardsman, who said that his brother was Quartermaster-Sergeant in the Welsh Guards. “Yes.” said the Prince. “I know him.” On noticing Air Fred Boitser, tno chairman of the Market Tenants’ Association. the Prince said. “Hullo, 1 know you. 1 saw you at the Cattle Show.” He was right. The meeting occurred five years ago. BRITISH WAY THE BEST. There were no formalities at, the Cock Tavern. The Prince ordered his own coffee, which was drawn out of the ordinary urn. . . In the cold storage plant he visited lie refused the offer of a coat, and was particularly interested in tlie Argentine meat. “I iiave seen the arrangements for the transport and handling of meat in Chicago and Paris, he said befote ho left, “but those I have seen to-dav are infinitely superior in every way.”