THE CORONATION

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Issue 4956, 16 February 1937, Page 3

THE CORONATION

EXODUS FROM AUSTRALIA. HEAVY BILL OF COSTS. Sydney, February 5. The exodus of Australians to see the Coronation in London has begun. It is estimated that Coronation “trippers” will be required to foot a bill for £5,025,000 before leaving Australia, and will spend an additional £3,000,000 abroad. These estimates are regarded as conservative. The itemised account would be:— Passports from Australia, £25,000; clothes and equipment before sailing, £1,250,000; travelling expenes (fares, etc.), £3,750,000; expenses abroad, £3,000,000. Of this amount, only the two first items may be regarded as remaining in Australia. While fares and travelling expenses will stimulate the Australian shipping trade, portion of this money will find its way abroad.

Twenty-five thousand will leave Australia, including about 10,000 from New South Wales. They will require 40 ships for their transport. They will travel by all routes—via Suez, via the Cape, via Panama, via Java and Singapore, and via North America. While the Coronation will attract a stream of New South Wales money abroad, it is expected that the loss will be more than made up during the sesqui-centenary celebrations next year. An appeal is being made to each Australian visitor to the Coronation to persuade at least one person abroad to attend the New South Wales celebrations. The estimated attendance at Sydney during the festivities is from 500,000 to 600,000 people, including 20,000 from abroad. Among them they should spend at least £8,000,000, in living and holiday expenses.