VISIT TO SYDNEY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 22, 19 October 1937, Page 6

VISIT TO SYDNEY

Hastings Man Impressed with Progress INTEREST IN N.Z. POLITICS An eagerness on the part of many AuStralians for information regarding. the Labour Government's legislation in New Zealand, " and expressions oi' opinions as to the effect and Teactions to that legislation, was noted by Mr Jos. Wilson, of Hastings, on his recent visit to Sydney. "I found them even more ready to talk about our new Government's legislation and proposala than about their own Federal elections which are to take place there this week," he said. "It was obvious that there are many Auatralians taking keen interest in the effect^ of the advanced legislation of the present Government and they were eager to have all the informption I could give them about the proposed and already established legislative programme. "I .did not note any marked interest in their own politics among the people I came in conta/ct* with. All those 1 talked with seemed to have no douht* that the Lyons Government would be returned. In fact, they appeared to take it as a matter of course, and were more interested in the econ'omie expansion that is going on than in politics." Mr Wilson found this interest in expansion fully justified. It is over five years since he last visited Sydney and consequently he was ainazed at the development and growth of the city and of business in that short period. "There1 were signs of prosperity evcrywhere and one of the principal impressions of this visit was the expansion that has taken place in Sydney and its environs. It was really remarkable to note the extent to which it is going on, and the enthusiasm and activity on the part of the people themselves," he said. Sir and seven-storeyed buildings were being pulled down, or rebuilt", .so as to provide 10/ 12, or" even "more' stbreys. "But what was more interesting was the fact that,. as well as" going upwards, they were building downwa'rds, for the principle of basement shopping facilities has become very popular, ' ' he said. ' 1 There is plenty of activity in the building trade. In the business areae the . undergr'ound basement' departments are now an es'tablished feafure of the biggest of the sforea and emporiums." Mr Wilsop. said that," in addition, he found there were inereased .numbers %of people travelling and there was a happy and brisk manner among the people generally that betokened prosperous times. Elafcs were becomihg increasingly popular. Indeed, it now was general, and in some of the older suburbs the slum areas were being. cloared up and gradually being cleared away to make room for buildings of -four and five storeys containing a number "of 'flats in each storey. . . The problem of , traffic' control was an acute one, as was only to "be expected in.view of .there being a>pbpul^tipn of 1,400,000 ih Sydney and jsulSurbs alone. There had.. been great strides made in the facilities for tranisportati.on of the public. The .railways' had been electrified and were ufidergraund, on the surface, and overhead. Vehicular traffic ^ in the streets* kept the pedestrian ever on the alort. * Control in the central areas was good "but 'there were long stretches between - the centre of the city and other congested areas where it was di.fficult to cross a street, even at an intersection.