MONEY BEING SPENT

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 72, 26 March 1934, Page 10

MONEY BEING SPENT

AUSTRALIA'S PROGRESS

BUILDING ACTIVITY

On his return by. the Marania today \ after a holiday visit to Sydney and Melbourne, Mr. Barton Ginger, of Wellington, said'that'he .had been very much impressed by the extent of the expenditure on pleasure and in business dealings. Sydney appeared almost to have been rebuilt since', he was there five years .ago, and so much constructional work was going on that iii a number of cases men were working in shifts. There was ample evidence of Australia's improved ■ economic position, and the business men he had met had been extremely gratified at the steady upward movement of affairs in general. ... ■■: The chief topic of conversation in Australia at present was that of war between Japan and Russia, Mr. Ginger said. The Australians, had no doubt that it would, eventuate, and in the meantime they were disposing of their wool, much of it to Japan, and doing very well out of if. There was a hint, too, of munition manufacture, about which much secrecy was. being observed. Mr. Ginger, remarked that he had found shopkeepers and others reluctant to take the Dominion's new coinage, and the exchange was 4s in the &. One man to whom,he tendered a New Zealand half-crown asked him where he had obtained the "Victory medal." The temperatures during tho heat wave were terrific, said Mr. Ginger. At the same time the conditions were very changeable, and one day the temperature dropped within fifteen minutes from 101 degrees to 83 degrees, and people were going round in overcoats. Such conditions were very trying, especially to a New Zealander. "Everybody in Australia is scared about our earthquakes.' There were full-page stories of the recent shake in some of the newspapers, but the more dignified papers were-very reasonable and' fair," said Mr. Ginger. " I believe earthquakes are a definite factor in deterring some people from coming to New Zealand. > ■ ■-■'■, "And while on the subject of travel I should like to say something about the "New Zealand tourist office in Sydney. It is badly placed from-the point of view of attracting the public, and I think that if it had a better position more people would bo inclined to inquire about New Zealand. It seems to me that an opportunity of increasing the Dominion's tourist traffic is going begging there."