SPEED FOR ROYALTY

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 13, 6 April 1927, Page 8

SPEED FOR ROYALTY

SYDNEY IS WORRIED i “THE DEADHEAD EXPRESS” (From Our Oicn Correspondent.) SYDNEY, April 1. Following upon general complaints that the first Royal progress through the streets of Sydney was made at too fast a pace, comes another protest against the high speed ot the Royal barge, when the Duke and Duchess landed last Saturday. One correspondent in a morning paper stated that instead of a beautiful water pageant, onlookers “ saw the Royal barge hemmed in by two ugly naval pinnaces, with sailors standing, racing down the waterway at full speed, creating a ‘wash’ which swamped several ‘eigths’ and ‘fours.’ ” The fact of the matter was that the naval officers in charge appeared determined to stop a repetition of the incident which marked the departure of the barge from the Renown when a large launch persisted in keeping its bow against the stern of the barge, and its engines at full speed ahead. As a consequence the barge not only bumped the side of the Renown, but was unable to steer until the rude butter-in was “shooed” off. Once clear of this affair, the barge and pinnaces tore away at full speed. A RETIRING POLITICIAN

Australia is famed for her politicians, and there are some good men among them. One of these is Mr. W. G. Mahony, late M.H.R. for Dailey, the seat now held by Mr. Theodore, lately Premier of Queensland. "Bill” Mahony has always been a bright light in Federal politics. He has been true to the Labour Party and to his constituents, even to standing down when Mr. Theodore wanted a seat, and what politician can do more than that? He is to have his reward in warmhearted wishes from his hundreds of friends, accompanied by a cheque running well into four figures, which will be handed to him to-morrow night at a complimentary dinner. This typically Australian man of politics has fairly won these things. Always devoting himself to the welfare of others —such, for example, as helping writers and artists to get legislation to stop the flooding of Australia with cheap books and prints—he has let his health suffer, and he was truly glad to step out of politics; his friends in their legions have determined that Mr. Bill Mahony shall be treated handsomely, and these sentiments, which will be expressed by the Lord Mayor to-morrow night, will be repeated, to similar accompaniments no doubt, elsewhere and later on. THE “ DEAD-HEAD EXPRESS”

Sydney yesterday was amazed at the news that 100 politicians and their wives had left in the Royal party for the Blue Mountains. This was to have been a quiet trip, and although 100 invitations have been issued, it rvas not expected that there would be more than 50 per cent, of acceptances. However, the train staggered out of Central Station with two of the latest express engines, painted a royal blue, to haul it. One extraordinary feature of the Duke’s visit has been that the

same crowd of people have been invited to all the functions. So that one man would have his mantelpiece covered with cards of invitation, while his neighbour, who believes himself equaly worthy, had none. The feelings of the Duke and Duchess, in having to meet the same faces, or nearly so, at every party, apparently have not been considered. But this mountain trip has eclipsed all records, in the size of the entourage of the Duke. The people of the purple heights will be indignant at being elbowed away from the Royal presences by the Sydney gang. The Duke, who has a keen sense of humour, must be getting much amusement from such doings. MAKING IMMIGRATION EASIER

The flood of white alien migrants which is slowly sweeping over Australia has demanded an amendment of the regulations governing their entry. Up till now, every white alien entering Australia has had to deposit his passport with the Customs Department, and leave it there till he had satisfied the authorities that he had settled down to become a good citizen of Aus tralia. Perhaps the accumulation of passports has caused the powers that be to move in the matter. At any rate, from to-day, the passports need not be deposited. Instead the aliens must make a written declaration of their nationality and other qualifications and their intentions in Australia. After that they may go where they list, as long as they behave. The varieties of white races which enter Australia would make a New Zealander open his eyes. And every alien has to have £4O before he can come in. Some of the migrants who have not soi much money pass on to New Zealand, where the entrance money is only £lO, but the bulk of the wanderers from Europe seem to know little of New Zealand, while Australia is to them a kind of promised land.