VISIT TO AUSTRALIA

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 30 October 1928, Page 6

VISIT TO AUSTRALIA

SCENES AT CONGRESS. “A MAGNIFICENT PAGEANT.” HAWERA RESIDENT’S IMPRESSIONS. A series of interesting impressions, particularly with reference to the recent Eucharistic Congress in Sydney, was afforded a “Hawera Star” reporter yesterday during the course of a brief conversation with Air B. AleCarthy, of Hawera, who returned last week end from a visit of several weeks duration to Australia.

“A magnificent pageant of religion was presented,’.’ said Mr AlcCarthy, in commenting upon the scenes witnessed during tlie congress. “Sydney and its people and the great cathedral of St. Alary were worthy of such an. event. The culminating procession on the Sunday afternoon of September 9 was witnesseff by a vast crowd variously estimated to number from a half to three-quarters of a million people. That Sunday was marked both on land and water by stirring and impressive scenes which will probably never be forgotten by any member of the huge assembly.” Practically ‘the whole of Sydney came into the streets to witness the ceremonial, continued Air AlcCarthy. Tlie scene in Hyde Park was an extraordinary spectacle which beggared description. Over half a million people must have been crowded into the park and streets surrounding the cathedral. The Catholic societies which commenced to march from positions to the domain just after three o’clock were passing at the rate of 200 a minute until after four o’clock.

SMOOTHLY ORGANISED

The congress with all its many procedures was. remarkably well organised, every function passing smoothly to its conclusion without the slightest suggestion of confusion and the huge crowds were so orderly that the traffic authorities gave the opinion that never in their experience had throngs been so easily managed. “Throughout the whole of the- proceedings a spirit of reverence could be sensed among actual participants and •spectators alike and tribute after tribute was paid by ’the. representative prinoes and prelates <jf the church to the tolerance, respect and reverence of tlie great concourses of people witnessing the various functions. The visiting princes, prelates, clergy and laymen were of a most cosmopolitan character and came from all Darts of the world. “New Zealand was distinctly well represented, it being estimated that over 1000 pilgrims proceeded to the congress from the Dominion. They included all the archbishops and bishops with the exception of Dr. Oleary, of Auckland, who unfortunately met with an accident just prior to the opening of the congress. Jjdany, of the visiting bishops and clergy from other parts of ‘hke world, touched at Now Zealand either going to. °r coming from tlie congress and will he able, on their return to their various . countries, to give first hand information with relation to both Australia and New Zealand. “SUBLIAIE BEAUTY.”

“A building of sublime beauty” was the description. applied by Air. AlcCarthy in speaking of the Sydney Cathedral, which was the focus of thought during the congress. “The cathedral of St. Alary, Our Lady, Help of Christians, to give it the resounding title belonging to Australia’s greatest cathedral, was completed just prior to the congress and celebrations, with tlie exception of two spires which are to rise to a- height of 230 feet.. Its length outside is 350 feet. The height of the groined) ceiling from the floor is 74 feet, and the central tower rises to a height of 127 feet. A period’ of 55 years has been occupied in its construction, and it has cost more than £750,000. It is erected on a site facing Hyde Park on a prominence which affords a commanding outlook and renders its beauty visible from a very wide surrounding area.”

INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS.

Commenting on business conditions, Air. AlcCarthy said that complaints of depression in trade were repeatedly heard in Sydney, Alelbourne and Adelaide. In New South Wales 1 the position was regarded in a very serious light. During Air. AlcCarthy’s visit the question of the reduction of the basic wage was discussed with some heat in the State Paidiament, and was the cause* of many passages at arms between the Premier (Mr. T. R. Bavin) and the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. J. T. Lang). The former urged: that either the basic , wage shouldl be reduced or- else labour should increase production. Air. Bavin had warned the workers that unless there was greater there was bound to be. a serious reduction in the standard of living. Air. AlcCarthy received the impression that the depression was felt to a greater extent in Adelaide than in the other two cities. Tlie root of the trouble in all centres apparently lay in the fact that, while wages are high, production was not on a- commensurate standard. Illustration of this was afforded during the waterside.!*®’ strike in Melbourne, when comparative returns of work as published. showed that the output of the experienced waterside workers was considerably exceeded by the volunteer labourers who replaced l the l former. “As- the Beeby award under which tlie watonsiders were emnlbyed provides for a wage of 2s 11-jd an hour, the •ontout ought- to be good,” said All*. AlcCarthy.

That business films in Sydney hind faith in this future of the city was, however. shown in the big expenditure recently incurred in the erection of premises. and millions have been spent in the last ten yearn in providing buildin,in .the central shopping areas. The work of the underground- 'raalway was oroceeding apace, though speed in progress was retarded by reason of the solid rook formation of the city substrata;. TRAFFIC CONTROL. Traffic was controlled with marked efficiency_ in each of the Australian cities■ visited by Mr McCarthy, but in Sydney particularly, fhe congestion was becoming -a '.serious problem, owing to the narrowness of the .streets and the increasing volume of traffic on wheels. “That traffic requires to, and doe-si, move quickly,” said Mr McCarthy, “and the usual command of the pointsman when releasing a. line at an intersection is not to go slow -but to speed up.” At- intersections not controlled by an official tlie off rido or right hand rule, recently introduced into New Zealand was observed, and its operation had a marked effect in allowing vehicles to- move rapidly with less,risk of accident than would obtain without the rule.