CONDITIONS IN SYDNEY

Hokitika Guardian, 29 January 1931, Page 5

CONDITIONS IN SYDNEY

SLACK TIMES IN HOTELS. “ Champagne is seldom seen on « dinner table in Sydney in these days,” said Mr J. C. Hardley. of Auckland, who returned by the Maunganni recently. “ Tilings are very hard over

there and the visitor is particularly struck with the slackness in the hotel trade. Places which in normal times have 150 guests are lucky now to have 25,” he said. Mr Hardley, who was accompanied by his wife, spent several weeks holidaying; in Sydney. Another thing that greatly impresses the visitor to Sydney, according to Mr Hardley, is the number of men—men who h ave obviously known better times —who are now about the streets practically begging for food. Asked if he thought the present depression showed any signs of lifting. Mr Hardley said that opinions differed. Many people believed that bottom had been reached. but a manager of a bank had told him that the depression would yet become worse. The Australian public as a whole was firmly convinced that tilings would right themselves eventually. The aerial mail service from Sydney to .other parts of Australia i.s wonderfully well organised.” remarked Mr Hardley. “ Every morning, on the tick of eight o’clock, you hear the buzz of the mail ’plane leaving for Brisbane. The punctuality of the services is so good that people living near the aerodromes can set their clocks and watches by the time of the arrival and departure of the ’planes.”