SIR NORMAN NOCK

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 103, 28 October 1939, Page 12

SIR NORMAN NOCK

VISIT TO DOMINION

LORD MAYOR OF SYDNEY

Sydney's popular Lord Mayor, Sir Norman Nock, who is making his first visit to Wellington, in an interview today conveyed the greetings of the people of his city to the citizens of Wellington. "I have really come away to get a break from office," said Sir Norman, who is nearing the end of hie second year as Lord Mayor. He will spend nearly a fortnight in New Zealand before returning to Sydney.

As nearly as possible the people of Sydney, and of Australia generally, were carrying on their normal activities despite the outbreak of war, said Sir Norman. When the war commenced the Prime Minister, Mr.. Menzies, asked everybody to maintain their normal lives and employers were urged to do all they could to provide employment at fmi strength. Victoria had its own legislation, requiring jobs

to be kept open for men engaged on military service, and employers in other' States had given similar undertakings. In a number of the larger concerns the difference between normal pay and military pay was being made up. Although prices had been increased by one penny as a result of taxation, j there were no petrol restrictions in Australia. In consequence industry arid other activities dependent on petrol supplies were being carried on almost on a pre-war scale, and there had actually been a slight increase in the value of second-hand cars. CONFIDENCE IN OUTCOME. "There is a psychology of confidence in the outcome of the war," remarked Sir Norman. "We don't want to have to set to again and rehabilitate industry, and we are keeping it going at full strength." It was generally accepted that the Dominions should assist the Motherland to the utmost of their capacity. The number of applicants for the Air Force far exceeded the number at present required, and Australians were fully seized of the far-reaching implications of the Empire air training scheme. The last war had more or less started secondary-industries in Australia: pn a large scale, and they had continued to grow in the intervening period, but now that they were properly established the present war should make Australia one of the largest manufacturing countries in the British Commonwealth. Sir Norman said that Australian returned soldiers were greatly . disappointed that they would not be visiting New Zealand, as arranged, to return the visit paid by New Zealand "Diggers" for the Anzac Day parade in Sydney during the sesquicentennial celebrations. He recalled, with a twinkle in his eye,: the "freedom of the city" that was conferred on the New Zealand contingent during that visit,, and said that he had. had the honour of entertaining the visitors. Remarking that he was glad to be back in New Zealand even for a short stay, Sir Norman said that he had the happiest recollections of his previous visit in 1927 He had done some big-game fishing then and the photoI graphs he. had taken back had. he was ! pleased to say, been responsible for quite a number of Australians com- j ing to, New Zealand for the sport. In recent years the late Mr. Zane Grey had done some fishing off the coast of New South Wales and eulogised the. sport offering there, but there was undoubtedly a great deal to be said for the conditions attaching to the sport off the New Zealand coast. At the age of 40 Sir Norman is said to be the youngest Lord Mayor Sydney has ever had. He was proposed for the Mayoral chair and elected by the unanimous vote of his fellow-alder-men within three minutes at the 1937 election, and last December he was given the honour, unprecedented in Sydney's civic history, of receiving the support of both the Civic Reform and Labour Parties. He remarked today that he was prepared to accept another term of office if the City Council so decided when the election falls, due next December. Sir Norman was created Knight Bachelor in the King's Birthday, honours last June.