AUSTRALIA'S COAT OF ARMS

Evening Star, Issue 19772, 24 January 1928, Page 5

AUSTRALIA'S COAT OF ARMS

ADVOCATES OF A CHANGE. That a new Australian coat of arms is needed is tho opinion of a wellknown Australian artist. “A disgrace,” “dilapidated,” “particularly dreadful.” are somo of the epithets that wore hurled at the existing coat of i*rms by the president of the Australian Society of Artists, Hr Sydney lire Smith, tho other day* lie was referring particularly to tho design appearing on tho obverse of the silver coinage. The deputy master of tho British Koval Mint himself has criticised tho coat of arms, and Mr Smith endorses him and makes mu oh stronger comment than the English authority, for Mr Smith says that tho designs are a disgrace lo the Commonwealth. Tin; Federal Art Advisory Board, it is urged, should got to work at once hy asking notable Australian artiste 1 n submit new designs, Mr Smith says. His idea m that wo should do away with the coat of arms on coins altogether, and substitute something more decorative Tho Americans have used the head of a redskin, but our aborigine is hardly so ornamental. Still, there arc a number of subnets that could ho used, and, in his view, somo of tho best would probably be types of flora indigenous lo the country. Some people say they are in favor of retaining the present coat of arms, but substituting a “ tin hare ” instead of the emu.