CANBERRA

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 128, 3 June 1927, Page 8

CANBERRA

DISADVANTAGES OF NEWBORN CAPITAL .

EVERYTHING IN PRIMITIVE

STATE

(From "The Posts Representative.

..■•-; V. SYDNEY; «6th May: Visitors to Canberra during the hiatbri* ceremonies theie were, outside the glit-' ter ■ and. pageautvy of the show • iteelf/ chiefly impressed w^th the beauty of fta ■ setting.: for a. great city, the bitter cold' in the early morning and when the sun. set, the frost that mantled; the g^und' like, snow and the fog that Wotted out the whole of the'landscape'in the early hours, the fact that it is a, place of such long distances as to maka motoring or movement by some other vehicle absolutely essential if one has business there, andthe further fact that P*hibition there i» a farce of the first inagnitiide. That the "bone-dry" law at the capital is a joke is recognised by the Government, which, however, while prppoiimj^tct; alter matters before long, lis determined, it is. understood, to keep nnder its own.control any hotels which are licenced. During the recent ceremonies, liquor Was- consumed, although not at the official luncheon, with as much freedom as in I'any licensed -town: - lf.-\va S brough'tsiiiwnha.capital, in Cases and in bottles, according to_6ne's pecuniary circumstances.: existing shopping does'. not befit a capital city, and.the half dozen or so shops, only one of which, is of any size, are hardly likely to appeal, "by "way of.a morning "round the block,'.' to the'wves and daughters of the Civil servants when the latter descend on the place and takeup their abode in scattered and distant suburbs which.at present are in a Very' primitive state,-:: For the. womenfolk, and especially • those wit-h; social ' pretensions, who have to plunge from the bright lights and amenities of Melbourne land Sydney to this-newborn city, as black as ■ pitch it night, the transition will be something of a tragedy. Like, all pioneers; they are going to find'their path somewhat N rough. ' . - ' . ■- . ;■■ ... For bachelors aiid -for . ma'med couples" without young families the-transference from Melbourne or Sydney: to Canberra will be less irksome than to "those whoss ypungsters can; at present at all event*, get- a higher education, such as at the .Great Public Schools, only ?in the older", capitals, and who therefore have to leav« their children behind; This is the chief lament of a number of officials already at the capital. They are "fed up" even-at this- early stage. They, are suffering, from what is known, as '"GanberrilSs;". ■ which while quite innocuous physically in catching, like the measles and whooping cough. They feelthst they have been pushed away into- a backwater,r where wily motoring and 'golf, if they can afford it, can disturb the even terioV of their placid way. Th« dear, pure air of Canberra is healthy, and ita blue, sunny skies are gootTto' feok upon, rßut the officials who are among the pioneers are already beginning to compare ' the willowy, winding Molonglo, which trickles through the capital, with .the dear .old Yarra and the Sydney Harbour. Sydney 1 ■ and Melbourne are already beckoning ■ tt> '; them like a temptress. . ; ';