ROYAL TOUR

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 1, 3 January 1927, Page 4

ROYAL TOUR

■C ANBE R R ££! REM ONI cV

ON MiJ-JNIFICENT SCALE,

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

SYDNEY, 24th December

"Within a. fortnight, the Duke and cDueliess of York will leave England on their..tour of TSTow Zealand and Australia. They;.will travel through New Zealand, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, and Victoria in that order before they pay their brief visit ,tp ; Canberra- to .ope;i the Federal P. ar:.liam.pnt in its:new. ; .an.d permanent home, federated Australia's new "capitail already plans have"; practically been completed for ;tlie entertainment of tho Jloyal 'Visitors.jTthpugh tho ceremonies ;do not take placo.'.until 9th..May. Since Jthe Canberra' ceremonies?;are the whole raison.'d'etre •■of the-'Duke's visit, interest attaches to these plans. It must be understood that Canberra to-day is a skeleton city. True, its progress towards completion has been marked by activity during-tlie past eighteen months or two-years,'but it still remains a "city'in the making.; The completed- buildings - include the Parliament Buildings, a magnificent, hostel,, another hostel on not quite so high a plane, scores of Civil servants ?-.]i ines, and dozens of business premises.; Its: population to : day is but a few thousands, but iti.is estimated 'that its pbpii-' latibn ■' during"- the two days ' of tho Duke's visit will bo between 50,000 and 100,000. To cater for this large ;and irapi'd influx of people has been tho arduous dutyl of the Federal committee of entertainment.-. Before Parliament House space has been allotted for 100,000 people to sea the imposing review of the military, naval, and air forces..-Twenty, aeroplanes will circle above tho'gath'sr--ing. Eight .hundreds-military and '.naval•forces',''iu\ addition, to airmen, .•will-Toe, encamped, and these will: take place in a review ■' before-Parliament House steps, where welcoming speeches to^the Duke and Duchess by the Prime Minister and others will'be carried'to .the waiting thousands by loud speakers. ■ ' ' „,....;; "...,.'; . .'. "■ ' ■'■':• !sie .New South.. Wales Railways will be unable to carry more than 3000 people on Bth and 9th May. Hence most of the public will visit Canberra Iby means of motor-cars. Steps are being taken to improve the-roads leading to the capital. .Parking- spaco is being provided for 30,000 mqtor-cars. Motorists will have .numbers.; allotted .to -them corresponding to numbers in these various motor "parks," and there will thus be a minimum of inconvenience in/ reaching their allotted stations'.'" A complete medical service will be established with a casualty clearing station pn,the lines of a military camp. Elaborate measures are being taken for sanitation. Thousands of tents jyjll .be provided, and overnight Canberra will ..,become.a canvas' ; city;,,:£or-the.,-.present~ hqtel accommodation .will be all-reserv-ed for official guests who are expected to number hundreds in themselves. To tiiis canvas city water pipes -will be Jaid. Fireplaces for people using .tents will be provided for .them to cook theirsmeals.--, -y^'W'■■'■':■?'/'■(, ■ ;. Every'nationOTitKv a :JConsuJar repre^ sentative ini;^tral^,.^will %q Xf £&:i s^nted by tlje# ,;Thel Qo:fatnartt&; every ;State*and^th;eir iiaffs^he Premier and'leader of the Opposition'" in each State and the Lord Mayor of each State capital will be among, tho official guests. :There.:w'i]l.be other official Federal guests^ arid ?in addition a Batch of invitations will be sent to each State Government for distribution P rl W^r 6 a^ tailß havo beea announc--+•«f-'Htthe™m entertainment commit-