MANY QUEUES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25085, 26 December 1944, Page 6

MANY QUEUES

CONDITIONS IN SYDNEY

A VISITOR'S IMPRESSIONS (0.C.) WANGANUI, Monday

"Queues, black marketing and dust. That summarises my impressions of Australia," said Mr I). (J. O'Toole. president of the New Zealand Timber Merchants' Federation, interviewed in Wanganui after his return from Sydney, where he attended the third Australian timber congress as a New Zealand delegate.

"They appear to queue up for everything in Sydney and Melbourne, particularly rail travel. The Australian position is infinitely worse than it is in New Zealand," Mr O'Toole added. "They even h ive queues at bus stops. One 1 saw in Melbourne was so long that it trailed out. of sight. If consisted of men. and they were waiting in a boiling sun at no- . for their allowance of one bottle of beer. It would cost them »ls 7d for that one bottle, but on the black market the price is much higher. Sheep were selling at Jis :i dozen in some country districts, where the pastures were absolutely denuded of vegetation because of the drought and dust storms, but at the same time beer was selling on the black market in Sydney for L'O a dozen bottles. Prices for Meals "It is a mathematical problem to work out what a meal will consist of in a hotel," lie said. "Meals were rationed on a basis of values, but nobody was permitted to have more than three courses. The limit for brekafast was ,'3s worth of the food on the menu, with 4s for lunch and 5s for dinner. It is not only a question of selecting the food at dinner, but wondering how much one can get for 55." Mr O'Toole said the cheese he sampled in Australia was of a much higher quality than that obtainable in New Zealand. Prices for fruit were abnormally high. He paid 2d each for plums in Sydney. Dust Storm Experienced

Describing liis impressions of a dust storm, .Mr O'Toole said that on one occasion there was a steady wind ot 68 miles an hour velocity. When tlioy had glimpses of the sun it looked like a pale 1110011. Visibility in broad daylight was no more than a block and the temperature was 06deg. As it was a Sunday, most people remained indoors, but the more hardy went to the beaches.

"People in Australia are well aware that New Zealanders are much better oil' at the present time, and they are envious of us," said Mr 0 loole. lie described Australian austerity clothing for men as leaving much to be desired.