ONCE WEALTHY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 20 June 1931, Page 10

ONCE WEALTHY

CHANGE IN SYDNEY DEPRESSION NOW INTENSE ■ "The cry in Sydney is not ‘Are you : out of a job?’ but ‘Have you got a job?’” said a Canterbury member of the New Zealand University Rugby team wiio returned to Christchurch, says the "Tiiiies: ’ He found Sydney a,.place where depression and ppverly obtruded themselves an all hands, but where it was still, infra dig to travel other than by taxi. _ ■ / “'ilia first thing that impressed us was the number of people who were practically begging about the streets,” he said, “playing some form of gramophone or violin and getting anything they could gather. They did not appear to he getting anything, for the people merely passed them by. The position over there is more severe than it is here.” The Communist element, he said, was very active and held a demonstration every day, mostly at Parliament buildings. Up Lilt recently they had supported Mr Lang, but the latest cry was "Down with Lang!” Despite the serious slate of depression the New Zealanders found the standard, of living far 100 high, and much above what is to be found in the main cities of New Zealand. One lost caste if one did not travel by taxi. The fares were much higher than they were here. . "The rale of living is still pretty excessive,” lie said, “and the prices of some things are higher than they are u New Zealand, though such things as suits, overcoats and shoes are cheaper.” The people still spent money on amusements. League football drew crowds up to 20,000 and the theatres were nearly always full. “The general impression we got,” lie concluded, “was that a few years ago Sydney must have been a very wealthy place. There are many Packard and Rolls Royce cars about. Although the crash has come the people are not heeding it the way they should.”