SYDNEY'S HOPES

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 9, 12 January 1938, Page 8

SYDNEY'S HOPES

VISITORS FROM ABROAD

THE ANNIVERSARY PERIOD

(From "The Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY, January 7.

Nearly fifty liners, in addition to those from New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, will arrive in Sydney during the 150 th Anniversary Celebrations. Heavy passenger lists are expected by shipping companies as a result of extensive publicity given Australia in the last few months.

In addition to the regular callers, there will be the cruise liners-Empress of Britain, Franconia, and Reliance, which will bring more than 2000 people, it is estimated, for a glimpse of Sydney. A highlight will be provided by the Union liners Monowai and Maunganui. These have been chartered to arrive in April with 2000 New Zealand returned soldiers, their wives, and families. The two liners will be used as hotels by the passengers during the stay in Sydney.

Shipping companies in the United Kingdom-Australia services report an increase in the demand for round-voy-age tickets this season. These roundvoyage tickets include a special "celebrations ticket." This is issued at the same price as the ordinary round-voy-age ticket, but enables the passenger to break his journey at Sydney for the currency of the celebrations.

A special effort has been made in India to attract Europeans, particularly Army officers, to Australia. A representative of the Australian National Travel Association in Bombay has been doing good work, and the P. and O. Company has been carrying out a special publicity rcampaign throughout India and Ceylon. An attractively-produced handbook on Australia, released in England, has been distributed throughout India, and seems to have won results. Indian passage figures to Australia show signs of being the best so far. Fares have been made most attractive.

A substantial number of people !will visit Sydney from the Pacific Islands. Traffic from New Zealand will be heavy, During the celebrations period the Awatea will make 16 voyages from Auckland and Wellington.