LIVING HIGH.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 262, 5 November 1929, Page 5

LIVING HIGH.

CONDITIONS IN SYDNEY | ORGY OF SPENDING MOSTEY. POTATOES COST UP TO £40 A TON". "There is every indication thai': Mr. Scullin, the new Premier, will be given a chance—he te a sane sort of indivl dual," said Mr. P. Selig, company director of Christchurch, and at one time inaMaging director of the "Christchurch ]Press," who returned from a trip to Australia by the Maheno this morning. "Bruce made some tactical Dlinulers," he continued, "and what is really -wanted over there is an arbitration court to • operate over the whole of Australia, and not in each State individually. There is no mistaking that fact." Business people in the Commotuwealth are complaining sadly about 'lack of trade, Mr. Selig said, and the dro p in the wool cheque was hitting them ve/ry hard. Just before he left, however, tfiiere was a tendency for prices for wool to go up. There appeared to be an orgy iof spending in Sydney, especially on pleasure and amusements." Theatres were pa eked day and night, and there did not seem to be lack of money for those purposes. Buildings, too, were going up all over the place. Despite that fact, t7aere were aver 1000 fiats to let in and sa ound Sydney and they were still beiug;'built. One of eight storeys was being constructed in Manly, and it would he a most elaborate affair. Everythir<g with the exception of boots was deader than in New Zealand.

There had been a shortage of potatoes also, and the Tasmanian eßop had been "mopped up at £40 per ton;" Later the price had eased a little. There was no doubt that Australia shoujld allow the importation of New Zealand potatoes, but importations were snot allowed.When Mr. Selig asked the reason for this he was informed that they were affected with blight. He strenuously denied the assertion. _ Mr. Seliq- is at the Grajnd Hotel and will leave for the South ol 1 Thursday.