BRITISH MONARCHY.

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19880, 8 May 1936, Page 9

BRITISH MONARCHY.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—As we cannot reach an agreement we wish to submit the following to you. The cable about the cost of the British Monarchy showed that the total would be several hundred thousands of pounds a year. Is that a fact? We remember reading in the Times some months ago a statement that, really, the Monarchy cost the British people nothing—indeed, that they made a profit o<ut of it. Would you please state the exact position, as it would interest a lot outside our particular party.?—We are, etc., T.B. AND J.C-W. Hamilton, May 7. The Civil List, in ID 10, was set at £470,000, but at the request of the late King George it was reduced by £50,000 in 1931 in order to help the national llnances. The British people appear to make a handsome profit in their financial arrangements with the King. In the year ended March 31. 1935, Crown Estate revenue amounted to £1,984,000, and the sum of £1,320,000 was actually paid to the Exchequer as surplus revenue. Against this sum is set the Civil List, and even if it were restored to £470,000. or increased, the nation would still reap a handsome profit on the transaction. That is why a Labour member during the debate stated that the House was not giving the King anything. The exchange of Crown estate revenue for a Civil List is all in favour of the State.