SYDNEY BRIDGE OPENING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21598, 19 March 1932, Page 11

SYDNEY BRIDGE OPENING

I THE NEW’ GUARD’S PLANS ‘ I i A STORY FROM LONDON (United i Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) j SYDNEY, March 18. The followiag radiogram has been received from i the Agent-general (Mr A. C. Willis); by Mr Gosling (Chief Secretary): —* At the House of Commons on Tuesday evening a section of the members j interested in Australian affairs held a} secret meeting and discussed the Sydney bridge opening. It was stated ait the meeting that the movement, led; by Colonel Campbell, intended to seiqe the Premier and throw him in the river. I most strongly urge you to take every precaution to protect the Premier and save the State from this disgraceful acjt.” The message has been referred to the Police Commfissioner.

STATEMENT BY MR WILLIS, j I '! LONDON, March 18. (Received [March 19, at 1.15 a.m.) Mr Willis ( states that he obtained his information iin regard to the threat against Mr Lang from an unimpeachable source, and 'he was prepared to stake his life on lit. The meeting included a number of? persons who are interested in Australiajn affairs. . “ The person supplied it without my having approached him,” said Mr Willis* “ and I am unable to.disclose hf’is identity.” NEW [GUARD’S DECISION. j NO ACTION TO BE TAKEN. [ SYDNEY, March 18. (Received March 10, at 1.15 a.m.) The question on everybody’s lips today has be?m: Will the New Guard carry out the threat to prevent Mr Lang from opening the bridge? Colonel Campbell, the leader!, of the New Guard, has been exceedingly reticent during the past few days, but !he issued an official announcement to-nijght as follows :—“ The Council of Action *>f the New Guard, having carefully considered the whole position, has that no action should be taken inj connection with the bridgeopening Ceremony. This decision was largely influenced by the important developments now pending at Canberra.” . J ■ NEW? YORK’S FELICITATIONS. | NEW YORK, March 17. (Received March 18, at 9 p.m.) In connection with the opening of the Sydney j Harbour bridge, Governor Franklhii Roosevelt has sent the following message: “On behalf of the people of the jState of New York I felicitate the peorple of Australia upon the completion {’ of the great Sydney Harbour bridge, j The citizens of the Port of New York (sp.n readily share in the high aspirations of this great achievement as we are) familiar with the planning, the toil, the anxiety and the vision which are pairt of such a colossal venture. Dawes {Point and Milson Point are geographically remote from the people of New YJork, but the great arch which now spans them is a close and familiar symbol of progress. We rejoice with the people of Australia on the completion of this new landmark of modern civilisation.” : ! " CITY CROWDED WITH VISITORS. j' . ' I I SYDNEY, March 18. (Received March 18, at 11 p.m.) Sydney is crowded with visitors for the bridge opening to-morrow. Special trains from southern and northern Statens brought thousands more to-day. Souyjanirs are being sold everywhere, most] of them being replicas of the bridge. The weather, which was bad earlfier in the week, has improved, and thera are now good prospects of a glorious day to-morrow. Myriads of flags are fluttering on the bridge, at the approaches of which special stands have been erected for the official ceremony and the reception of distinguished visitors. Warships are moorred in full view of the bridge, and big liners are bedecked with bunting. Most ‘of the tall buildings in the vicinity are i floodlighted and the towers of some of the large departmental buildings are decorated in honour of the occasion.

The police force has been- augmented to jdeal with the influx of undesirables, whw have gathered for the twofold object of the bridge opening and the racing carnival.