CONDITIONS IN SYDNEY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXXII, Issue 2722, 11 May 1931, Page 2

CONDITIONS IN SYDNEY

A SHOCKING STATE., “FORAGING IN GARBAGE .TINS.”' “You have no idea what conditions are like in Sydney,” said Mr. G. Grieve, a visitor to the Mackenzie County A. and P. Show, who has just returned to New Zealand after spending two years there. “You don’t know what depression is in this country,” he said to a representative of the “Tiniaru Herald.” “If you only had a taste of conditions in Sydney you would at least have some idea of what a depression is like.New Zealanders have had such a gooff time in a beautiful country, that it only requires a slight setback for them to start moaning about hard times. Really Appalling. Reverting to the conditions in Sydney, Mr Grieve said some of the things he had seen there were really appalling. When it first was decided by the Government to pay sustenance allowance to prevent people from starving, the business people thought it would be a good idea if coupons were issued, and on the presentation 4s 6d worth of food per week, while of a coupon a single man could get a married man would get 12s 6d worth. The Government fell in with the suggestion, but in a little time unemployment increased by leaps and bounds, and finally the Government found its finances in such a plight that i,t was unable to. redeem its coupons, and, said Mr Grieve, it is doubtful if they ever be redeemed. Matters are going from bad to worse, and I can’t see. how they will ever get square again. You have no idea of what things are like over there. I have seen men who were in. ' quite a happy position before the trouble started, foraging in the garbage tins in the hope of finding some articles of food. It seems almost incredible, but I have actually noticed a number of men of this type struggling over garbage tins to get anything to be found there, that would, appease -their hunger. You have to ■ bear in mind that there were not isolated cases, and it only goes to emphasise the tragic conditions prevailing* in Sydney. “Looting over there is most alarming,” said Mr Grieve, “and it also is not safe to go off the main thoroughfare. “I knew a .young fellow who. went into a side street one night, and he was accosted by a couple of. toughs. He had~only 2s in money, and he let them take it, thinking, that it would be better than attempt- . ing to resist. That was riot enough. Noticing that he had a good overcoat, and hat the toughs took these as well as the money. That is an everyday : occurrence, and you don’t hear of one ' quarter of the things that go on daily over there.” Asked if he thought there was any: chance of revolution in New South Wales, Mr Grieve said he did not think so, giving as his reason that the : : crowd were beaten to their knees, and had not a kick left.” He admitted,: however, that in Melbourne thousands of people opposed to the present ; political power were armed in case ofc emergency. Concluding, Mr Grieve said there was no money in circulation as it was known here, and there were; thousands and thousands sleeping out at night. He estimated'the-workless in Sydney alone at over a.quarter of: a million. Mr Grieve added: “This country will do me, I can assure you. I was never so thankful in my life as when we sighted good old New Zealand on my way back. I don’t want anything better than this little country.” * ’