Prince Charles: the quarter million dollar head of State
Alf Grumble reports the Queen is starting her own vegetable garden to help Her Majesty cut costs. Not a bad idea in a time of national need. Of course, when it comes to organic farming of vegetables and livestock, no-one knows better than Prince Charles, who owns the commercial operations of "Duchy Originals".
The man who might be New Zealand's King receives about NZ$250,000 (€119,584.0) in subsidies from the European Union. That's right, the very subsidies despised by New Zealand farmers* to keep their inefficient European counterparts warming their cattle in sheds every winter are been scooped up by someone who could be our future head of State.
Not that Prince Charles is alone - the subsidies are almost like a modern-day patronage scheme, with the top five recipients being other members of the British aristocracy, the top being the Duke of Westminster, who has an estimated worth of £6.5 billion.
These subsidies are yet another example of the reality that the retention of the monarchy is not in New Zealand's interests. In days gone by, when most of our farm produce went to the United Kingdom, it may have made sense from an economics point of view. But unless the UK Independence Party or BNP win a plurality in Brussels, we are unlikely to see the same sort of favourable treatment for New Zealand farmers (or farmers in Australia or Canada for that matter) anytime soon.
*and all disciples of the free market, of course.
The man who might be New Zealand's King receives about NZ$250,000 (€119,584.0) in subsidies from the European Union. That's right, the very subsidies despised by New Zealand farmers* to keep their inefficient European counterparts warming their cattle in sheds every winter are been scooped up by someone who could be our future head of State.
Not that Prince Charles is alone - the subsidies are almost like a modern-day patronage scheme, with the top five recipients being other members of the British aristocracy, the top being the Duke of Westminster, who has an estimated worth of £6.5 billion.
These subsidies are yet another example of the reality that the retention of the monarchy is not in New Zealand's interests. In days gone by, when most of our farm produce went to the United Kingdom, it may have made sense from an economics point of view. But unless the UK Independence Party or BNP win a plurality in Brussels, we are unlikely to see the same sort of favourable treatment for New Zealand farmers (or farmers in Australia or Canada for that matter) anytime soon.
*and all disciples of the free market, of course.
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