SYDNEY'S SAFETY VALVE OF FREE SPEECH

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25048, 11 November 1944, Page 10

SYDNEY'S SAFETY VALVE OF FREE SPEECH

Orators of the soap-box tradition, I Sydney's famous "spruikers" still renain a Sunday afternoon institution n the Domain. Even if the purpose s unintentional they are really loing a big job in morale building, udging by the thousands who gather ,o be instructed or entertained. It 'would be a poor intellect that .'jpould not kindle some spark of interest 'ln at least one of the causes advocated. One may always heartily disagree. Like Xondon's Hyde Park and Melbourne's ffarra Bank, the Domain is the great safety valve of free speech for Sydney's J,500,000 people and the variety of the inaterial that flows through the valve ts infinitely wide. Indeed, every' 'spruiker" seems to have the capacity and willingness to _ expound on every conceivable subject, from bol weevils to billiards, although most conclude by grinding one particular axe. The setting of trees and lawns is not unlike portions of Auckland's, Domain. The spruikers, maybe a dozen, perhaps a score, arrive at intervals and take up positions within easy yelling distance of their competitors. They come equipped with ladders, platforms, flags, banners, literature and, not infrequently a quart bottle of an undisclosed refreshment. The total absence of the primitive soap-box is disappointing but indubitably signifies the march >of progress.

Avid for any new gospel that may be offered or merely curious to watch another form of dialectic acrobatics, crowds collect as soon as a new man pegs out his claim and sets up his props. A policeman generally wanders across with the aimless air of one having nothing better to do. Restrictions, except on taking up collections, seem to be almost existent so the "spruiker'' may split his infinitives or discourse in the richest and most expressive Australian to his heart's content The Sydney Domain Debating Society is one of the regular attractions, and appears to enjoy considerable patronage. It is run by a partnership of "Me and Abe." Who Abe is is not quite clear as he never seems to speak. Nobody is sure who "Me"' is either, for he is always speaking and never gets a chance to be introduced. He says he is "hundra per centa the realla Dinkum Aussie," so that any suggestion of sunny Mediterranean shores to be found in his complexion is purely coincidence. The first half of the partnership was expressing "Me and Abe's ' views on Sydney's sluggishness in contributing to the current victory loan on a recent afternoon. "Why. over in New Zea-

SUNDAY AFTERNOON IN THE DOMAIN

By W. E. PARROTT, the Herald's Staff Correspondent in Australia

land they gotta da £40,000,000 in two weeks," he said. Even if he did exaggerate, it was a nice compliment. Then there is "The Tiger." Ho is a diminutive gentleman of considerable ago and remarkablo agility. "The Tiger" mostly recites. When he is not reciting ho dances. When doing neither he takes refuge at the business end of a short, square bottle. People like "The Tiger'* and throw in pennies. The acceptance of these offerings may technically be an offence but he seems to get away with it. One "spruiker" spent most of a recent afternoon discussing troubles of the stomach. His neighbour was saying very unkind things about Mr Curtin's Government. Not far away a Communist gentleman was very busy placing Soviet Russia on a high pedestal. A rival was just as busy knocking it down. The rate of pensions in Australia was discussed by another group. A clergyman, quoting Sir Oliver Lodge, Sir James Jeans and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, spoke quietly on the life after death. He was quite unperturbed by the irate heckling of one who believed in nothing beyond the grave. A noisy voice boomed forth beneath a banner which demanded: "Stop the War.''