AUSTRALIA

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 July 1942, Page 5

AUSTRALIA

BANK ROBBED SYDNEY. July 21. During the week-end, £lO,OOO was stolen from the Commonwealth Bank at Townsville. WOMEN ON TRAMS MELBOURNE, July 21. Seven hundred tram and bus conductresses have replaced men on the tram and bus routes of Melbourne. They have won high praise for efficiency and courteousness. However, the conductresses suggest that some of, the women passengers are not making their work easier. One condustress said that the women passengers were “spiteful, lazy, and abusive.” “WAR-TIME” PRAMS SYDNEY, July 21. Australia’s babies will really be “bouncing” in the new standardised types of prams and strollers which have been decided on by the Department for the War Organisation of Industries. The prams will have no mudguards and no storm-covers. They will have plain tyres and

springs. The prams will be made of wood and the strollers will be of the canvas folding type. COST OF LIVING. (Rec. 12.25) CANBERRA, July 22. The cost of living in Australia has risen 17.9 since the outbreak. Percentage increases in capital cities are: Sydney, 17.5; Melbourne, 18.7; Brisbane, 17.8; Adelaide, 18.6; Perth, 16.5; Hobart, 18. The cost of living has risen rapidly in the past 12 months, because at June 30, 1941, it was up only 9.2 on pre-war figures. Clothing is up 53.7 per cent.; food, 11.4; rents, nine per cent.; miscellaneous items, including tobacco and household articles, 14.4 per cent.