SYDNEY TO-DAY.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19852, 13 February 1930, Page 13

SYDNEY TO-DAY.

PERIOD OF DEPRESSION.

MR J. LAWSON BALFOUR'S VIEWS

According to Mr J. Lawson Balfour, an ex-Cliristchurch painter, domiciled in Sydney, and now on a holiday visit to Christcliurch, conditions in that city are at present in an unhealthy state, in consequence of which he would not advise young artists and others to take up their residence there, at least until better times arrive.

In conversation with a representative ol ; The Pbesi, Mr Balfour stated that owing to the economic situation conditions in {Sydney were a long way from being satisfactory for young artists. This was duo to a number of causes, among which were the drought of the fast two years and the coal strike. Another important factor was that the recent wool sales had resulted in some £30,000,000 less coming into the country. The price of land had been going up year by year as also had the cost of living. These conditions had tended to inflate the economic position and now deflation was taking place.

Wages Seduced. As an indication of the conditions in Australia to-day, Mr Balfour mentioned that all but two local bodies had come to the conclusion that the wages of their employees would have to be reduced in order to permit of an adjustment of affairs. The employees of the Harbour Trust had also agreed to work every fifth week without wages, this being done with the object of avoiding a reduction in the rate of wages paid them, and a similar agreement had been come to in. respect of the workers engaged in the wool industry. The banks, too. had raised the rate of interest thus making it difficult to obtain money—all of which causes tended to increase unemployment. Influx of Country Workers. There was yet another cause of unemployment, this being the steady influx of country workers to the city. This had been brought about by the recent improvements to agricultural machinery, resulting in one man being able' to do th© work for which previously several had been required. It seamed to him that the workers would have to face the unpleasant position of having to be content with smaller wae.es than had been paid in the past. To get on its feet again financially, New South Wales would, in fact, have to adjust itself according to the amount of money that was available. Centre of Art. Painters who had been successful enough to establish a name for themselves—and Mr Balfour stated modestly that he was fortunate enough to be included in such a category—were not feeling the pinch for the reason that their works were executed on commission for wealthy people, but the position was different in respect of younger and less known artists, whose works were usually sold at from fifteen to fifty guineas. Sydney was the artistic centre of Australia, having supplanted Melbourne in this respect. This was in his opinion due to the fact that it had a larger population, among whotn ■were people from various parts of the Continent and also Nep- Zealand who; on account of its congenial climate and surroundings, had selected it as the best place, in which to live in their retirement.

The Talkies. Asked what effect the talkies had had in Sydney, Mr Balfour said that they had certainly intensified unemployment. Whereas previously there had been big,,orchestras in many of the picture theatres, to-day only two , of the larger houses of - amusement: —tha Prince Edward and State • Theatresemployed them. The popularity of the talkies had also resulted in the livelihood of ballet dancers and other stage artists being interfered with. - On I several picture programmes, ballets and vaudeville turns used to be featured to add variety to the entertainment, but to-day they had practically disappeared. The artists concerned were generally in dire straits and were forced to accept anjr kind of work which might com® their way in order to keep body and soul together. Better Times Ahead. Sydney was in such an unsettled state to-day that it would be a mistake for New Zealandfers to contemplate going there in the hope of improving their positions. This applied not only to art but also to commercial pursuits, and accompanying him on the Maunganui across the Tasman were several people who had gone to New South Wales full of optimism, but who were coming back disillusioned and disappointed. At the same time there was a great deal of building going on in Sydney, and he thought that the State had a bright future before it after the present (temporary he felt sure) period of depression had been passed as it possessed large areas pf back country which in his opinion was capable, when cleared, of carrying big quantities of live stack and of being used for general farming purposes.