N.Z. IN AUSTRALIA.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 222, 19 September 1929, Page 14

N.Z. IN AUSTRALIA.

[; "GOVERNMENT OFFICES. HIDDEN FROM PUBLIC VIEW. ! '"(GOOD CAVE FOR A RECLUSE. j . ~ f (From Our Special Correspondent.) t (Copyright.) : 14? ' - — * SYDNEY, September 6.. "Bet's go to. the New Zealand Government: offices and jiave' a look over the latest files from the Dominion," I suggested to a New Zealand friend. "Where are they?" he a3ked. ' .;■'*• ! He had been 'eight years in Sydney and .didn't know that. I 'didn't, either, after eight months lerei. No wonder! But I put a brave face on it. "We'll soon'find out," I said. We obtained a telephone directory. I found the address: "London Bank Cham-bers/-Martin Plac<v" "There you are," I said, boastfully. "Yoti'vo only got to use common sense if you/.want to find anything—what d'ye think a telephone book's for?" He' accepted tlie rebuke in that characteristic New Zealand spirit of mildness ■whiijjh exe'ites. the' wondering admiration of lesser faces the world over, and together we proceeded to Martin Place. ."Admirably situated,"- I murmured;' ''right in the heart of the city and within sjianghai, range of the general post office." ' "" ' ' ' We walked up Martin Place and we walked down Martin Place, but there was no-sign'of any New Zealand Government offices, with interest-compelling ground-floor .windows, such as we cxfcted. In fact, we couldn't see any Z.G.Q..'si. at all. But we walked up Martin Place and we walked down Martin Place again. On the face of my friend there was a furtive smile. ' " "You've only got to use commonsense if you want to find a place," he quoted. Exasperated, I .crossed to the general post'office and looked up the address in the telephone directory (the very latest) again. Yes; there it was sure enough— New; Zealand Government Offices, London Bank Chambers, Martin Place." 04.' a piece (of vacant • land "near Pitt Street there was a stall," wliereat an individual dispensed orange drinks to the thirty. We stayed to sup his specialty. 'We Discover New Zealand. As I had unavailingly questioned three policemen arid four taxi-drivers (riie being spokesman and guide to the party), I thought it a forlorn, hope.. But fate had led ine to the simple foreigner. "Where," I asked, "are the London. Bank Chambers?" , ..*,)• • , "Alii", he re'plied; -'■"the *Lon' Bank Chombre —she iss no more. She. was here, but she was pul' down long time ago," We crossed the road, and then looked tack at a large building on the corner of Pitt Street and Martin Place. Our eyes ranged the edifice foot by foot, and. a crowd gathered, as crowds will, to see whit we were looking at. ' 0 - On a window on the third floor—a little narrow window —we thought we saw some lettering which looked like "New Zealand." . We cupped our hands to get a telescopic effect. Yes; it was even so. Dimly, there could be made out: - "New Zealajid Government Offices." * . , " So it was written on three windows facing Martin Place actually—-each' windoTV,'being about 2ft 6in wideband could be "picked out easily by anyone with a good, pair of field glasses. . .. We crossed, the road again arid went ■upstairs to the third floor. We had trailed to its hidden lair the office which is supposed to advertise New Zealand in Sydney and instruct the untutored savages of Australia regarding the beauties and'othtr attractions of the sister Dominion, and now Wo entered a poorly-liglited-'room and took stock. Facing the door was the counter, under which hung three or four paper posters, of late design, looking mtifpt dejected in such a position. On the lefi^hand-side of the counter were a few folilera,frj -'dYbox, ■ What appeared to -be concerning New Zealand was stacked on a shelf well out of reach of-; any inquisitive visitor's clutching hapd. Apparently the stock ia being conserved. On those portions of the wall best lighted .were a large number of ancient, fadded ; photographs of New Zealand scenic resorts, which would have beon classed old-fashioned ( and ..-futile twenty years ago. In tile dim gloom were Beteral really good; paintings —as far as could be made out in such poor light. From the "ends of-the reading .stands wo,re a few undersized pieces of wretchedly, shabby cardboard, a few inches in diameter, inviting anyone who'looked at them to visit-Mount Cook. . The reading stands, being too few to 1 accommodate all the newspapers, several filte are spread over a glass.case. Peering under the files, one can see some faded, folded goods, giving the visitor ' the momentary impression, that^he: is, in a second-hand clothes, shop. By removing the newspapers and making a really minute, inspection, 1 one realises that here, is an advertisement for New Zealand woollen go6ds. It piight as "w;el.l: be locked away in the Safe .Deposit., Up To Date.. There is another; "display" .of; New Zealand's commercial resmirces .in two glass cases standing low. on tlie floor. By kneeling down, one cjin obtain" a fairly comprehensive view of jams arid pieklcs—excepting oh the • lowest. of the. shelves, where the "exhibits" are hidden by the woodwork. .. .. t ''■For consolation, , we. turn. to inspect, the newspaper files. It is September 3, late in the afternoon, and--the steaiher from New Zealand liad arrived early that, morning. I had already received my iriail (at home, in ; a far suburb), including some newspapers of as late a date as August 20. The., latest. "Star" on the file was dated August 16. Yet there had been several mails from New Zealand -since' that date. Later' newspapers must certainly have reached the Jjjew Zealand .Government Offices., Why were they not filed? v 1 "But, in any case,'f ' remarked my fj-iend, "what would be tho use of the 'papers if they were filed? You couldn't boo to read here." ■It was a fact. The file was at tlie <jnd of tho room, in its darkest recess, find tho elqctric light at that end was out of order—had: been .'for several jfionths, it was discovered. IWo approached ,' tho I,counter and I at tract cd tho attention of a young lady, I explaining that wo woro from New Zea- ' land. Shu regarded ua aa if we were , omo now and interesting inmates of a I #00. NUII, slit) Willi courteous, for all el 10 had recovered from the tfioek,

Oh, yes (very brightly), quite a num- ' ber.of New Zealanders came there. (This proves conclusively • that the New Zealander is a heady fellow and-a .true scout—one who will follow the trail t.o the bitter end). Crowds came there-to read. Crowds! We looked about us again. Yes, there was the crowd—a little, old man, who eat at - the centre table, above which there was a light—yes. The crowd was absorbed in reading an illustrated journal of ancient date. We forebore to plunge into the . crowd, and' turned again to the counter for an inspection of the visitors' book. This provided further incontrovertible \ evidence of the popularity of the place., Nineteen visitors-.' lad .signed their names there since July 27—one for every two,.days. It'was plain that . the staif would have to be increased to deal with' the multitudes who sought the advice, consolation and'.assistance of the New ' Zealand' Government Offices. "But,"-asked my friend, as we descended in, the lift and went forth into the bright light of day, "what are these offices for?* Are'they-intended merely for a reading room and a postal address for New Zealand visitors, or as a centre for the advertising of the beauties and resources of New Zealand?" Why? Why.' Why? "The. intention, 'I believe, was that this should bo the centre to attract the people of this country to come and learn of . the delights .of our blessed islands, and to be encouraged to visit them," I replied. • •, "Then," replied my friend, • "why do they not have offices which people may easily find? Why do they not have ground-floor "offices, with window frontages which; are. made .attractive with modern photographs and pictures of New Zealand? Why don't they make a proper display, so that people can see it ffom the street and stop to look at it ?" "These things, my friend," I answered, "are ■ beyond my comprehension. I am told' that about ten months ago a New Zealander resident in this country wrote to Sir Joseph Ward, suggesting'a scheme whereby New Zealand could be cheaply and sufficiently advertised here and tourists' persuaded to flock to. our lovely isles. He received a reply which stated that the matter was receiving attention, and.that's all.that came of it." "But," persisted my friend, "this position is ridiculous, when one finds it difficult even to locate the offices. What on earth is the New Zealand Government thinking; of?" '."Lam not a thought-reader," I replied. "The New Zealand' Government works in mysterious ways Its wonders to perform."