AUSTRALIA'S BIG DAY.

Chronicle (Levin), 5 November 1947, Page 6

AUSTRALIA'S BIG DAY.

Received Tuesdav, 7.0 j>.m. SYDXKY, Xov. 4. The juilse of Australian life skipped a beat at 3 p.ni. today. The street^', in the cities und towns were practically deserted as cars and trams came to a standstill at Vtrategic spots. In oflicos and ta'-torics throughont the Cominouwealth business and production charts were disregarded as on this oue day of the vear, iuauugcis hol>nobbed with typists and ofiice boys aud employ-ers exchanged views with uniou execut i.ves in frnnkticss and wellbeing. All t-his was becau>e on the hallowecl and sliglitly sodden turf of Flemington two horses from distant Xew Zealand led the sweating cavalcade past thejsigmlieant marker. As Hiraji- thitndered liome with Fresh Boy trailing, all Ausf tralia sighetl and turued back tb work again. The Melbourne Cup was over for another vear. Another mark had been made and another traditiou bioken. After 32 years the cup had again been won by a grey and at last the game expartriate l'rom Xew Zealand had won free from a depressivc series of minor placings. For a few minutes during the runniag of the i*np politics were forgotten. Before the race Mr. Chifley, " stolidly ]>uriing a i>i]>e and refusing to place a bet tuld friends tluit Iliraji and Bark Xlarne were " good things". Tho veteran Liberai ex-Premier, Mr. IV. XI. Hughes, was of the samc opinion reganling Iliraji though his logic was not obvious. Ile said he favoured the big grey because it- uer, Mr. F. IV. Haghes, was a nan-.sake. With certaiu grimness niembers learned yesterday tliat the liouse of

Representatives would meet usual at .3 p.m. .today. At the last minute, liowever, eveu. th'e" Hpeaker; Mr. Roseveai', foiind'he cbuid hoU face tlie.prospect of einpty beuches and rebellious nienibers and the nreeting time was postponed, uu.tif- 3.1o p.ru, Opposi'tion members" retle'cted wifetf ully of the tiine during the war wlieh? XLr. M^nzies lifiltl a Cahinet meeting w-liile ihe cifp was being run. Un tliat occasion he rebuked- Xlr, H. dlolt for sneakiiig ;a portable fadio into the meejtiug but with Senator Fosll and.. Xl'r. iHdlt , stole 'oijtside a'nd liscened to Ihe 'race in the passageway. Xearlv 200 people solved the accommodation problein by tiving from Svdney to Melbourne aud back today, though questiuiis are being asked in Canberra concerning the prodigal waste of fuel on sucli missions. There were no grey toppers and morning coats among these passeugers who gave preference to raincoats and umbrellas, but at Flemington the sartoriul splendour provided another indication that the war is over. . Iliraji, wliose fortuues have been closely watched and who is acclainied as a Svdney horse, carried much Xew South Wales mouey. His small conipatriot Fresh Boy, ridden by the 1(5-years-old Brian Eames, was \ ery popuJar in Xrelbourue where he was strongly supported. Politicians who took the day off at Flemington l'ound that books on the Yictorian election were open but that the Oppositiou was well favoured.