SYDNEY BRIDGE.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20499, 18 March 1932, Page 3

SYDNEY BRIDGE.

PLANS FOR OPENING. ENTHUSIASM AND DISSENSION. (MOM OUR owe COBItKSPOKPEST.) , SYDNEY, March 10. The vast preparations for the opening of Sydney's great harbour bridge on March 19th are proceeding in a peculiar atmosphere of hostility and enthusiasm, but it is probable that before the clay of the big event, to which the people of Sydney have looked forward for so many years, dissension will have disappeared. The chief complaint of the residents of the North tShore is, that they have been taxed for the 'jridge for so. many years, yet values have not risen as anticipated. They appear to overlook the fact that Australia is still in the midst of a depression. Then again the fares ou the trains and trams that will cross tho bridge will be far greater than those charged for a corresponding distance anywhere else. This has caused a storm of protest from those who will be compelled to use the. bridge. Motorists are a'so up in arms because they will nave to pay a toll, probably at the rate of Is each way. All other vehicles will also have to pay for the privilege of using the bridge, and it is estimated that in about 30 years, more or less the bridge will be paid for. If ever the bridge becomes free of debt, that will indeed he a day of rejoicing, But it is going to take a long time to make, up the £9,000,000 now sunk in the structure together with the yearly- interest on that huge sum. Thousands of Visitors. Be all this , as it may, Sydney , is going to reap a harvest at the openiqg of its "Bridge of Sighs." It is estimated that there will be at least 25.000 visitors with a spending power of £130.000, and preparations are being made for one of the busiest weeks ou record, ft is believed that there will be 2000 New Zealanders, for each steamer arriving from the Dominion has been crowded. Special trains are running from Victoria and Queensland. It has been found necessary to run seven special trains from Melbourne to Sydney on March 16th and 17th. The lirst of these, accommodating 370 passengers, was booked out in three hours. The fares have been reduced by one-third, and the Railway Denartment in each State will benefit, by more than i'9ooo It is probable that still more trains will be needed to accommodate the excursionists. One crowded special train has already reached Sydney from Brisbane, and two more are "to follow between now and the opening date. Special - excursion fares are .being arranged from the country districts of New South Wales and there is every likelihood that these will be specially well patronised. The great Easter Show will be an added attraction for the country folk. Feeling in Country. The feeling in the country that the bridge is an extravagance that the city could well have been without still exists, and the suggestion of jealousy has been reflected in the speeches made in Parliament, The Chinch, too, has added its protest, as witness the following utterance of Archdeacon Hirst, of Goulburn. a prosperous inland city: "The bridge cost too nnwh; it is not, and never ha* been, indispensable, and

in its gigantic proportions is a, fitting | symbol pt .the which has , been the jmdbing of r this State. W? propose to hold it up as an.oi>j«P.t'Ot ] veneration at a time when OUtside\our | shores the guns of war resound the menace of . Australia, and within 9 ur | borders hungry men are tramping everywhere i» search of the nwsann sustenance." This voices the sentiments of thousands who are scandalised at the holding of what has been called ',' a carnival of entertainment and frivolity" in Holy Week.., Many prominent members of the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches have announced tlieir intention of boycotting the celebraticnß Added to this the New Guard has not yet withdrawn it* threat to prevent the. Premier (,Mr Lang) from opening the bridge, all sorts of rumours have bflen circulated as to how this will he done. When it was suggested that Mr Lana might be kidnapped the leader of the Now Guard replied : '"No. \v? doti t. want his carcase on our hands." History in Pageant. Sydney has always possessed «. deep historical gem»e, and history w>U Play a great part in the big pageant, that is being prepared.* Sydney people »T e proud of the city's. ag«i, and of the great men of the past who laid tU© foundations so well. Governor lhilnp and his associates, Governor Macquarie and the people who surrounded hup; the first coach, the first bicycle, the first cab and the first motor .car—the«e and scores qf other landmarks m the progress of the citv will be shown. Vancluse House, where the famous WenfaWths lived for so long, <3 to have a celebration of its own on toe night of the great day—a masque Represent ins; the 1 if" of Sydney a hundred vears ago, with descendants of the famous pioneers in the roles ot then ancestors. The procession, two nines lon<r, will be a thin? of beauty with its srent floats ma*?* of, flowers and representing every phnse of the City s and the State's progress. • Ohildr-n's Message. The celebrations will commence next Wednesday, when 58,000 children will march over the bridge- The school children will not he forgotten on ( the actual opening day, but only two boys and girls from each of the 30 inspectorates in the State will take part.io the official function. They will come from all over the State, qnd the ing children will be the guests of toe Government at a seaside home close to i the citv. Arrangements have been ! completed for the despatch from the centre of the State. Tottenham, of a ' message of goodwill to the city. I message will be relayed by 74 schools on the route of 353 miles to the cin. The message is of vellum, and will deposited in the Mitchell T-ihrary. Sydney. for all time. The two rollers on which the message is mounted are ot ironbark. and have been turned »rom a pile of one of tile earliest wharves at Circular Quay, not from the site ol the bridie. The names of the schools concerned will be inscribed on the, sage, and the si-natiires of the beadmaster and two of the pupils will placed on the opposite sicle.