AUSTRALIA AND N.Z.

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 May 1934, Page 2

AUSTRALIA AND N.Z.

MESSAGE OF GOODWILL. [per press association.] WELLINGTON, May 14. j The following message from the Commonwealth Prime Minister (Mr Lyons), Ims been conveyed to the I Prime Minister of New Zealand (Mr! Forbes) by Mr N. Lane, manager of the Press Association: — “Australians have received with gratitude the goodwill message of the Prime Minister of New Zealand, which I hasten to reciprocate. We feel in these troubled economic, times that, we have much in common. Not only have we sprung from the same stock, but our forefathers who pioneered our respective countries for us, faced similar difficulties. They hewed for us homes out of the unfriendly bush, and they faced isolation and untold hardships. To-day. we reap the benefits of their labours. But the world in which we live is vastly different from the world they knew. More complex troubles confront us and the problems of New Zealand are to a great extent those of Australia. Modern transport moving literally on the wings of speed brings us ever closer, and I look torward confidently to greater intercourse between our countries with increasing interchange of visits by tourists, as well as public men. In the past our destinies have been largely along parallel lines. We have just commemorated Anzac Day, and in that word our two countries are linked eternally. 1 trust the comradeship of war will live long in days of peace.” Mlt LYONS’ BROADCAST. SYDNEY. May 13. Broadcasting to Australia and New Zealand, the Prime Minister, Mr .1. 11. Lyons, eulogised Mr C. P. Ulin’s teat, as being his seventh crossing of lhe Tasman Sea. remarking it “was becoming a habit of Ulin’s. Although some people might, cease to think that it was remarkable, nevertheless, it was still an outstanding feat in aviation.” It was, he said, doing more than anything else to close the distance between the sister Dominions, paving the way for a closer understanding and for increased trade.

MR. LANE’S IMPRESSIONS. TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS. WELLINGTON, May 14. “There is little outward evidence that. Australia has been experiencing o. lean period,” said Mr. A. B. Lane, Manager of the United Press Association, who returned to Wellington, this morning, by the Makura, after a visit, io Sydney and Melbourne. “The streets of Sydney and Melbourne are thronged, and the innumcrablo sho.ps appear to be doing a brisk business. City retailers, especially in the larger shops, have an immense dailv turnover, and they ate doing well. ’ The lay-by system, under which purchasers pay for goods by instalments, obtaining possession wnen the- full amount has been received, has attained enormous proportions, and a largo percentage of total sales are made in this way. “Sydney Bridge has justified itself. There is only one word for this structure, “marvellous,” and that seems inadequate. It is built on a scale which reveals broad and imaginative vision, and the result creates an ineffaceable impression. The huge arcii dominates the city and even from the far country, the rural taxpajei is able to shake his first at this addition to the distant scene, the bridge cost ten million pounds, and interest and sinking fund have to be found. Every motorist who crosses the bridge pays threepence for Ins car and threepence for each pel son in it. Every tram and-train passenger pays about twopence for crossing the. bridge. Foot passengers go free, with the result, that, many people get out of the trams and motors al the approaches and by walking over avoid the tax. The bridge is wide enough to~ accommodate two lines of rail? ways, two lines of tram tracks, a motor road giving ample space for lour lines of motor traffic and two wide footways for pedestrians. ’I he interior of one of the pylons has been turned into shops, showrooms, refreshment buffets, photographic studios, etc., all of which are willing to do business with the visitor who cl imps the nylon to obtain a view from the balcony. Near (he top, the footways over the bridge are screened by | netting and barbed wire, to restrain j would-be suicides from jumping over, i This is inconvenient' and regrettable, I but perhaps a. necessary addition to the bridge fittings. The roar of the train and tram traffic on the bridge is appalling, but it is said the people living nearby have become accustomed to it. The noise affects only the! immediate neighbourhood, but may be I carried further by favouring winds. | “Traffic control systems are being i tried out, in Sydney and Melbourne, where the problems have become acute. I In Sydney drastic action had to be [ taken and great improvement has been | effected. Pitt and Castlereagh Streets, in the heart of the city, are now one way streets. The police officers direct traffic at corners and cross roads, both foot and wheel traffic being controlled. In Melbourne the “stop” caution and i “go” signals with red, yellow and | green lights are in operation at all [ the principal corners, and the system works effectively with enormous crowds and fast moving motor traffic. Traffic, at Flinders Street station gives the system its most exacting test, and

the hurrying hordes of people as well as trains, motors, bicycles and other traffic are guided anti controlled admirably. The police take a. large share in traffic control in both cities. Melbourne’s new electric trams are roomy and convenient, and the services both of trains and trams are fast and frequent. It seems an anachronism that lhe old cable trams with trailers attached still proceed serenely along Bourke Street. This is the only remnant, of the old cable system, illH i ii will inevitably disappear in a few years. “The Past is parted with regiotlully, and even hansom cabs linger superfluous on the stage. Canbeira is the show place of Australia, and certainlv it is unique. H is a garden city ’in the best sense of the term, anil possesses beauty which one is compelled to admire. The gardens, buildings ami winding streets and the whole working out of plan for the future city have produced a town which can have no rival in Australia or New Zealand. The trouble is that Ganberia is ahead of the times, and is a financial dead weight, round the neck of the Commonwealth. Millions lof pounds had been spent on it amt millions moie will have to be poured cut before th? Federal City is complete. In the meantime, Canberra is not, universally popular with the sma'l army of Federal public servants and their families who make up the larger part of the population of the capital. Many of them have been dragged unwillingly away from their beloved cities of Sydney and Melbourne, and they pine for the fleshpots of those lively, gay places. On the other hand, Canbeira is entirely satisfying to the many inhabitants who enjoy every possible amenity in the way of sporting, athletic and social recreation. The “dry” law has been repealed and hotels in Canberra are licensed. The architect of the city, Mr. Burley Griffin, is now engaged in building a beautiful suburb at. Castle Craig, overlooking the middle harbour at Sydney. “At Canberra, I had the pleasure of meeting Commonwealth Prime Minister, Mr Lyons, and handing to him the goodwill message sent by Mr Forbes. Mr Lyons was very cordial in references to New Zealand, and expressed the firm opinion that many questions 'which confronted both Australia and New Zealand should be dealt with by the two Dominions in co-operation? rather than by each separately seeking its own advantage. He was hopeful rather than optimistic about the future of Australia, and I was deeply impressed by his genuine devotion to his country and its people. In Melbourne I met Sir George Pearce, Commonwealth Minister of Defence and representative of West Australia in the Commonwealth Ministry. The secession movements in West Australia and Tasmania are causing some concern in political circles, hut it is anticipated the agitations will cease before anj' severance is accomplished.”