16 MAY 1992, Page 23

Hezzagram

DELIGHTED though I am that Michael Heseltine (or Prezza Hezza) should have revived for himself the historic title of Pres- ident of the Board of Trade, I must draw his attention to A.P. Herbert's poem about his office and its holder. Then, as now, times were hard, and A.P.H.'s verses on the President ran:

This high official, all allow, Is grossly overpaid.

There wasn't any board, and now There isn't any trade.