AUSTRALIA’S CAPITAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 30 December 1927, Page 8

AUSTRALIA’S CAPITAL.

PROGRESS OF CANBERRA

BUILDING AND GENERAL

ACTIVITY

Canberra, the Federal capital site, is shaping along the right lines to become a- centre of more than average importance. Mr. J. T. Browne, formerly of Hamilton, who has been resident in this part of New South Wales tor some time and who is on a holiday visit to Hamilton', in a chat with a “Times” reporter, remarked upon the progress that Canberra is making. There are some 8000 residents of Canberra, and the number is steadily increasing. With the transfer of the Federal Parliament to Canberra there has been an added atmosphere of activity. An influx of. Parliamentary. representatives and civil servants, to the number of 2000 of the latter, had taken nlace of recent times, while another 2000 civil servants would be permanently resident there next year. These officers were all under the Federal Parliament, the first session of which was opened about three months ago and' closed midway through the present month. Parliament will reassemble for its second session in February. ERA OF MARKED PROGRESS. The creation of Canberra as the Federal site has been the steppingstone to an era of marked progress. Building operations are particularly active. The Government makes all the residential building provision and sells or leases to its tenants, on which civil servants, have the first option. When their requirements have been met outside' needs are catered for. Between 500 and 600 residential sites have been built on during the past year, to say nothing of the civic centres for business needs. One of these latter, which has just been completed, is the headquarters of financial institutions and big shopping emporiums. It is doubtful if there is a finer civic shopping centre in the world than the one which Canberra has established.

In addition to the extensive building schemes carried out at Canberra, some very expensive and elaborate roadmaking schemes have been undertaken. The wonderful and complete needs of electricity supply have been met by tapping the unlimited resources of the Burrenjack Falls, which are situated approximately 40 miles from Canberra. This is the “Arapuni of Australia.”

Canberra is still under the-“dry regime,” but the question will be determined by the vote of the people next year. Only residents of the Federal site will have the privilege of exercising their rights on this subject, which is, quite naturally, a subject in which a great deal of interest will be taken.