N.S.W. DEVELOPMENT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19987, 12 July 1939, Page 16

N.S.W. DEVELOPMENT

NEW INDUSTRIAL CENTRE GISBORNEITE’S TOUR The marked development of the outskirts oi Sydney and nieghbouring ais.rices made a deep impression upon Mr. R. A. Mitchell, Gisborne, during his recent honday visit to New South Wales. The Gisborneite spent three weeks touring the State in company with his brother, Mr. C. H. Mitchell, Rose Bay, Sydney, and together they covered approximately 4000 miles. Of outstanding interest was Fort Kembla and its adjacent industrial centre on the South Coast. Here the treatment of iron ore was being concentrated upon and a large scale industry was being established. The ore was mined almost alongside an abundant supply of lignite coal and it was claimed that it was possible for iron and steel to be manufactured there cheaper than anywhere else in the world. .... The development of this industry on a large scale, said Mr. Mitchell, had been recent and along with it a large new industrial centre was rapidly springing up. A few years ago the Port Kembla district possessed only a small population, but two years hence it was expected to contain 70,000 people. Popular City Flats

Another feature noted by Mr. Mitchell was the extensive building of flats in Sydney and a popular type of building to be found in the everexpanding suburbs was one containing 18 completely equipped flats. As showing the speed of construction methods, Mr. Mitchell said that during the three weeks he was in and out of Sydney he had observed an area cleared and construction work advanced on a three-storey building to the height of the window frames on the second storey. At that stage the ground floor, thoroughly furnished, was taken over by the tenants. In comparing the prices of goods, Mr. Mitchell found that the better class drapery and footwear sold at values much on a par with those in New Zealand, while in some instances they were even dearer. However, there was a ■ class of goods that sold remarkably cheaply. The visitor had found, too, that fruit was cheaper •than in New Zealand, but meat was a shade dearer.