DUKE OF GLOUCESTER

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 134, 4 December 1944, Page 6

DUKE OF GLOUCESTER

EFFECT ON CANBERRA

CANBERRA, December 3. a Fears are being uxpressed that when the Duke of Gloucester opens the new session of Federal Parliament next year Canberra will-be crowded out Before the Senate adjourned, Senator Leckie (Opposition, Victoria) asked if reservations wfould be assured for members and their -.wives.

The Minister for the Interior, Senator Collings, said that accommodation would be guaranteed for each member and "one wife." AH Canberra hotels and bofirding-houses had been told they must; not accept casuals except on the understanding that these people must -I^ave when the session opened. It was likely that a lot of people without any real, business in the capital itnight attempt to stay in Canberra for , the Duke's visit, taking up accommodation required for those who had to attend. However, the Government was watching the position very closely.' The Minis ter of Transport, Mr. Ward, forecast an "orgy of spending and extravagance" after the^ arrival of the Duke of Gloucester. "There will be assembled here the greatest collection of snobs tjje country can provide or produce," 7he'said.