VISIT TO MINER’S HOME

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20504, 21 May 1938, Page 24 (Supplement)

VISIT TO MINER’S HOME

QUEEN (WARY IN SOUTH WALES INTEREST IN' UNEMPLOYED Queen Mary walked into the kitchen of an unemployed collier's home in Maesteg, a mining town in Glamorgan, and saw Welsh broth boiling o» the fire and children's clothes, washed and ironed, hanging from the ceiling. It was the first day of her fourdays’ tour of South Wales.

The names of many unemployed Maesteg men with families of more than five had been placed in a hat, and out of it came that of Taliesin Howells, of 44, Bridgend Road.

And so it happened that shirtsleeved Taliesin, 35 years old, and his wife, aged 31, greeted Queen Mary on their doorstep. Three of the six children, Tom, aged 13, Eirlys, aged 10, and Mail*, aged 7, were there too. In an upstairs room, looking out through the window, were Maldwyn, aged 11, Elfed, aged 8, and Gwyn, aged 5. The ground floor was too small to hold them all, so they had drawn lots. Asked About Rent After Queen Mary had left, Mrs Howells told a Daily Mail reporter:— "Her Majesty shook hands with all of us and put us all at ease immediately. When my little girl said that her name was Mair, Queen Mary said, ‘That is the same name as mine, but yours is in Felsh.’ ” Mr Howells told me that Queen Mary inquired how long he had been out of work and what rent he pays. He had been unemployed for seven years and the’ family income is 45s a week, of which 10s 6d goes in rent, in Welsh.’ ’’ All along the route from St. Fagan's, where Queen Mary is staying as the guest of Lord and Lady Plymouth, to Bridgend, and through the beautiful valley of Lynfl, thousands of people waved and cheered. Maesteg, a typical mining town In the Welsh valleys, has suffered severely from the trade depression, and it still has an unemployment rate of 30 per cent, of the insurable population. Two years ago the percentage was 50. Waved Umbrella Aside Banners stretched across the streets gave an indication of the warmth of the welcome. "With Love and Admiration We Greet Queen Mary,” "Welcome To The Queen Mother," "Welcome to Our Reverend Queen Mary,” were a few of the loyal phrases used. Although rain was falling when she left the home of Mr and Mrs Howells, her Majesty waved aside an umbrella which was held above her head. in the afternoon Queen Mary took tea with Lord and Lady Bute at Cardiff Castle.