MINISTER ABROAD

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19461, 7 November 1928, Page 4

MINISTER ABROAD

REV. N. L. D. WEBSTER - RETURNS.

IMPRESSIONS OF AUSTRALIA

His life despaired of, the Rev. N. L. D. Webster, minister of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, left Cbristchurcli for Australia five months ago in search of health. He is now back in this city, fully recovered from his affliction —an embolism on the lung—and has left a number of Australian specialists marvelling at his recovery. Mr Webster is greatly impressed with the rapid growth in tho population of Sydney, which, he says, is viewed with consternation by the rest, of the State. Building is proceeding apace • and fast progress is being made with the Harbour Bridge. Places of nmusement — the picture theatres in particular—are crowded day and night, and in all the main cities enormous sums of money were being spent on the construction of theatres. In Melbourne two palatial theatres —the State Theatre, and Hoyts. costing £300.000 and £250.000 respectively —were being built and Sydney was also to have its State Theatre. Two new theatres, claimed to be the best in Australia, had already been opened in Svdney this year. Industrial Troubles. Strikes. Mr Webster remarks, are costing the Commonwealth a great deal of money, and the Melbourne wharf labourers were not gaining much sympathy in their lawless acts. The Russian Internationale, he added, had recently paid £40,000 for their headquarters in Australia, and the menace he regarded as serious, al-, though sane labour looked upon the position with concern. He was of the opinion that a new party with loyal members _ of the old Labour Party would spring- from the chaos. While in Australia Mr Webster heard Dr. Black,. of St. George's, Edinburgh, who was regarded as Scotland's leading preacher. "His sermons," Mr Webster said, "were discussed everywhere." Mr Webster also heard Dr Yates, the eminent .English preacher, in Melbourne.