Under the Sun

Southland Times, Issue 22039, 12 June 1933, Page 4

Under the Sun

Australian Scenes

A Journalist on Tour

(By

I. G. G. M.)

THE ROYAL SHOW.

Sydney goes gay at Eastertide. The hotels hum with life and prosperity and for a brief season the city is overflowing with people who spin their money just for the satisfaction of feeling like a Nabob on a brief pleasure cruise of glad, glorious merriment. Of course the races interest thousands. The Sydney Royal Show, however, brings visitors from all over the Commonwealth. These people make their holiday a real gala occasion. They visit the Show, marvel at the huge canvas of “still lifes” in the exhibition buildings, gaze with amazement at the unctuous showman in charge of his flea circus, applaud the svelt girls who ride like movie heroes and vow that next year they will come with more optimism and more money. The Sydney Royal Show for 1933 was quite the best that so far has been held, a wonderful occasion. One could not be called a prevaricator if one said that it was greater than any other show of the kind held in Sydney, or anywhere else for that matter. Travellers, business men and farmers who have attended the great shows in Europe and the United States are positive in their declaration that in none of the those countries can such a display be staged. The grand parade, with the colourful background of waving flags and bright frocking, with the Herefords and Friesians gay with their prize ribbons, with the impatient hack and pony and stallion, and with the mounted police’s prancing horses, brilliant with hides satin-sleek, made a memorable picture. This remarkable scene of action, life and colour, took place on a day radiant with sunshine. The crowd was enthusiastic, the authorities were delighted and the pen of every critic spluttered over pages of applause. The Splendid Sun.

The Hall of Agriculture must have taken days of hard thinking and hard working to prepare. Here were the displays of the various districts. This spectacle of the cultural wealth of the states was a memorable one. Golden sun and dew-drenched nights had brought the sugercane, the pineapple, and a thousand other fruits of the earth to delicious perfection to be woven into a display showing the bounty of the earth and the richness of the harvest. The luscious tropical delights arranged with precision and order proclaimed the fact that here was a land possessing great wealth, and the envy of visitors from all parts of the world, because the sun was generous in his favours. Display Attractions. The displays of the numerous firms were comprehensive. Almost every branch of Australian industry was represented. A structure like the Drill Hall in Invercargill, the Hall of Industries, is provided by the authorities for display purposes. Here the noise of gramophone and radio drowned the conversation of spectators and salesmen. Pretty girls occupied stands and shouted for attention, player pianos rang out “Please,” a jazz number heard in every music shop in Sydney, while numerous small boys, their arms filled with free samples, convinced one by their movements . and manners that they were the most important people in the place. Anthony Hordens’ and Mark Foy’s, big business firms in Sydney, have handsome permanent buildings in which to house their merchandise. These pavilions are fitted out in princely fashion, and remined one of the displays in the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition of 1925-26.

. Job! The “o” is long, as in Jonah or Mona or “Phone her!” He will be remembered as a man of infinite patience. But by comparison with the attendant at one of these show pavilions, Job is a back number. An account follows of ten minutes of observation.

“Have you any catalogues, you know the ones with the green covers?” asked a woman, obviously from the country.

“Certainly madam. The stand on the left.”

“Could you tell me the time please?” “Twenty to, three, sir.” “Any place round her to sit down?” “Where’s your office in Sydney?” “I want to purchase one of those cute rugs.” Each question was answered with courtesy and charm. A triumph of endurance. Australian Motor Bodies. Motor cars? There were rows of them. One fact stood out large and clear. The depression had not kept the American car .out of Australia. Every well known American vehicle popular a year or so ago in Invercargill was represented in its 1933 form. The manufacturers from the U.S.A, have been advancing with the times so that the products on exhibition were most attractive. Of course English makers were well represented. The majority of the automobiles on show were equipped with Australian bodies. Now the Australian may be the best craftsman in the world in some directions, but he cannot build motor bodies on the mass production method. The cars, English and American, were spoilt by their coachwork. Salesmen knew this fact only too well and loud were their lamentations. The Showmen. The amusement section of the vast grounds was thronged daily. The biggest ox alive, and the smallest pony in existence attracted the countryman. The more sophisticated gazed upon the half man and the half woman creature, and those who were interested in matrimony’s problems conversed with the largest married couple in the world. And there were many more: snakes, performing fleas, shows on the “outside” to attact the crowd into the “inside,” ferris wheels, and merry-go-rounds all formed part of this extraordinary kaleidoscope of animated movement.

■ Eating booths were in scores almost. “Hot pies, hot pies,” roared the not over-clean individual in charge of the establishment. And business was brisk. Dad and Dave stood around and discussed agricultural and other matters, clutching the pastrycook’s joy, while numerous urchins sprawled in the dust and ate lunches out of suspiciouslooking newspaper parcels. But they were very happy. The air was warm, cold wind was unknown, good fellowship and geniality were in the air, and everyone felt deliciously lazy and contented.

Sydney was wearing a flower In her hair for show week. Not every day does she get the chance to stage such a comprehensive display of her products which mean so much to her prosperity and well-being. (To be Continued.)