ORATORS’ FIELD DAY

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 20 February 1932, Page 15

ORATORS’ FIELD DAY

OPENING OF SYDNEY BRIDGE. PLETHORA OF SPEECHES'. The full programme of the ceremonies at the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge has been issued, says the Sydney correspondent of the Melbourne “Argus.” Even the most seasoned auditors will shiver at the prospect of listening to the corps of speakers.

There will be no seating accommodation except for a few leading persons. The members of the audience may be envisaged as standing- on one leg and then on the other, employing, walking sticks and umbrellas as partial support while the perspiration trickles from them.

Hot weather is often experienced in Sydney in March, but it may be that rain will trickle from the audience, for rain also has been known in that month, even without warning. Officials of the Royal Agricultural Society have sometimes had to regard the receipts for the dav mournfully.

The speakers will include the Governor, the Premier, the Lord Mayor of Sydney, the Minister of Works, members of Parliament representing the Citv of Sydney and the North Shore, the' Mayor of North Sydney, the chief engineer for the Government, Dr. Bradfield, and two representatives of Messrs Dorman, Long and Company, who built the bridge. The speaking and the crossing of the bridge by the procession will occupy two hours and j a half, perhaps more. i It is typical of prevailing political paltriness that Mr. Ball, M.L.A., has received no invitation. He was Minister of Works in a previous Ministry who put the building of the bridge in hand. He turned the first sod of the approaches, and he recommended to the Cabinet the acceptance of the tender of Messrs Dorman, Long ancl Company.