“LITTLE MALTA.”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20702, 27 April 1929, Page 16

“LITTLE MALTA.”

ROMANTIC SYDNEY SETTLEMENTNO ENGLISH IS SPOKEN. (From Oub Own Correspondent.) : SYDNEY, April 18. On the outskirts, of Sydney, close to Parramatta, there, has sprung: into, being during the last four years a settlement that is known as " Little Malta,” from the fact that its inhabitants are' all Maltese—British—but they do hot. speak a word of English. It is-a romantic little place, filled with swarthy men, barefooted and unshaven, certainly, but, all of them are extremely jolly. And the women are olive-skinned and ovalfaced, with flashing brown eyes, unbobbed locks, and they, too, are barefooted. Besides the men and the women and the children there are acres of let-’ tuce, beet,- cauliflower,. and cabbage. This little settlement has all the appearance of an Italian village. Immoderate gusts of laughter, snatches of grand opera, foreign folk songs and dances, and a foreign language—these are the things that greet the visitor, all ' within 25 miles of the great metropolis. The Maltese have found "Little" Malta” a kind of promised land., As market gardeners they are making big money, and their intense thrift enables them to save nearly all of it. Three years ago there were less than 10 Maltese in the district. To-day there are oyer 80, and the number is increasing with new: arrivals from Malta and the, little islands surrounding it They ate taking the place of the Chinese market gardeners, who, as a result of Australia’s immigration laws, are becoming fewer and fewer. : Most of the' when they arrive in Sydney are in their twenties. Few of them speak English; and it is natural, therefore, that they should "seek employment with their fellow countrymen who are already settled here. In a few months the newcomer learns .to be an expert market gardener, and as he works from 12 to 16 hours daily, including Sundays, and has but" two days’ holiday annually, he soon accumulates sufficient money to enable him to pay a deposit on a piece of land. His compatriots loan him' the necessary implements, and it is not long before the new garden.is producing wealth. T here have been numerous marriages at the settlement, but very little ceremony attends these. After the wedding Marie—fpr.it seems that all Maltese girls are called Marie—and her husband are entertained by their friends, to a feast of spaghetti; poultry, and quaintsweets. There are singing, much laughter, and dances that are unknown to Australians. There has been only ons "Little Malta” honeymoon, and that was- when a curly-headed, handsome little Maltese eloped with a short, fat. Marie, three days after she had arrived at the settlement, after travelling" all the way from Malta to marry another man. They spent two days in Sydnev—and then returned to their market garden. " V “Little Malta” provides an-excellent fleld for the political organiser. -The Maltese, being British subjects, are.entitled to vote as soon as they can be enrolled. At the recent Parramatta by-' election an organiser interviewed -a : couple of the chief men, and persuaded them to vote for his candidate; with ■ the result ta.it that candidate received about 80 votes in a bunch. The whole of the Maltese had voted for the ons man. -