THE MONEY OF MOURNING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 71, 2 July 1910, Page 10

THE MONEY OF MOURNING

WHAT A KING'S DEATH COSTS THE

COUNTRY. It is, of course, impossible to state hi actual figures what a fabulous sum a Royal death costs the country (says an English paper). But some idea can be gained of the immense amount involved by mentioning a few of the chief items. As soon as the news that the head of the country has passed away is published there is a slump on the Stock Exchange. Consols and other gilt-edged securities fall, and financial business U, for a time, lamentably slack, involving members of the Stock 'Exchange and financiers generally in heavy losses.

ilost of the great social functions, house-parties, and the like, are arranged a considerable time in advance, and immediately grave news of the Sovereign's health is received these are all camelled.

The caterers suffer to an alarming extent, and, although they may have taken out insurance policies, their losses are seldom recovered, owing to the high premiums charged on such a specula live class of business. Court dressmakers and tailors are flooded with thousands upon thousands of pounds' worth of orders for mourning; but, on the other hand, ilorists lose large sums because of the cancellation of their orders, with which the purchase of wreaths compares very unfavorably from a financial point of view. Race meetings, sports' gatherings, and other open-air functions arranged to take place about the time of the sad event are, out of respect, abandoned, mulcting the promoters in heavy losses. X© class is harder hit by the ueath ol the Sovereign than those who cater for the public amusement. In the administrative County of London alone there are fifty-one theatres licensed for the production of stageplays, and their approximate seating accommodation is 00,932. If we put the attendance each night at, say, 511,000, and allow an average of half-a-crown for each person, a week's closing o,f London theatres alone would mean a loss of £37,500. Then, pretty nearly every town of note in the country has a theatre, and. whilst the proprietors may have a clause in their contracts with touring companies, ''Xo play, no pay," they have the usual stationary expenses, and not a penny coming in to meet them. London alone has forty-'nine musichalls, with approximate seating accommodation for 04,851 people, and as most of these places derive huge profits from the sale of intoxicating liquors, which are only sold during the hours a performance is going on. it will be seen that the falling off in revenue becomes a verv serious matter indeed.

But not only do the great theatres and music-halls of London suffer, -iravelling showmen, proprietors of cinematograph theatres, circuses, and tne like, and promoters of _ concerts, must perforce close their doors For a time! And the efl'ect is not only pronounced at the time of the Sovereign's demise, but it takes a long time for the people to recover from their grief, and again seek amusement.

Royal funerals, too, cost the country a tremendous amount of money; but England's bill is not so high as that of foreign nations. William IV.'s funeral cost us about £IO,OOO, and aggregate public expenses in connection with the burial of the four Georges did not exceed £35,000. The bill for the burial of Prince Albert came to £0000; but the late Queen Victoria expended £250,000 out of her orivate purse on the mausoleum at Erogmore, and an additional £120,000 was spent by the country on the Hyde Pai'k memorial.