AUSTRALIA'S CAPITAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20254, 14 May 1929, Page 7

AUSTRALIA'S CAPITAL.

CANBERRA'S COAT OF ARMS

DESIGN OF SYDNEY EXPERT,

The Australian capital city of Canberra, by Royal Warrant, has been granted a coat of arms for use on appropriate occasions and as the common seal of the Federal Capital Commission. The design was selected after an Australianwide competition had resulted in the refusal of the adjudicators—Sir John Butters, Mr. J. L. Mullins, and Mr. G. V. F. Mann—to consider favourably any of the ideas submitted. The final dosign was nuido by Mr. C. 11. Wylio, a heraldry oxpert,, of Sydney, in conjunction with the Commission.

' From an heraldic ' point of view the Canberra coat of arms is, considered to'bo Iho most satisfactory yet granted,.to Australia. On tho principal , part of the arms—tho shield—the-' devices have a defmito heraldic meaning, the triple towered eastlo being an emblem of a capital city, and the Parliamentary, mace, tho sword' of Justice, and the Crown, the emblems of Parliament, tho .executive, and the Crown, which, together, comprise tho Government of the country.. A York rose links ,up the Duke of York with tho establishment of the city. Th 6 main feature in' tho creSt—tho portcullis—is a link with the capital city of tho Empire. —Westminister—except for "the suggestion of a garden city behind, in the- form of a gum tree and a greon mound. The Crown over all emphasises tho- fact -that Canberra is an Imperial capital city. ' The supporters consist of two swans, one tho peculiarly Australian black swan, and the other a white swan suggesting tho ■white Australia policy, and tho association of a white race with the original black race. The motto, translated, means, " For the King, tho Law, and the People."