A New Zealander In Sydney Town

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 586, 12 February 1929, Page 5

A New Zealander In Sydney Town

(From Our Own Correspondent) SYDNEY, February 7.

It is not often that a member of Parliament looks for a job—that is, so long as he is enjoying the confidence of his constituents. Mr. W. J. Jordan, M.P. for Manukau, who passed through Sydney this week on his return to New Zealand, told me that he determined to ascertain unemployment conditions in London for himself. Noticing an advertisement in a daily for a driver for a Ford truck, Mr. Jordan, with 400 workless men, decided to apply for the position. They were not long outside the office of the firm which had advertised when a notice was put up saying that the position had been filled. “What is the use of saying that these men don’t want work,” he remarked. “The work is not there for them. That is the position.” With so many vacant hands in different parts of the Empire, and with an almost unlimited Empire capital seeking investment, Mr. Jordan considers it appalling that there should be so many workless in the Dominions as well as in the Homeland. Empire land settlement and Empire marketing, he considers, might do something to solve one of our greatest national problems. Theatre Strike. Sydney has had two theatre strikes almost within a week. The first, mentioned in my letter last week, took place at the Grand Opera House which, incidentally, is still in darkness. The second, that at the St. James, was even more unexpected. “Good News,” in

which Elsie Prince and Jimmie Godden present a 100 per cent., right up to the minute picture of Amurican college life, still went on, thanks very largely to Chariton Morton, who sized up the position back stage. The unique spectacle of W. J. Douglas, the general manager for Fullers’, and the youthful A. Ben Fuller with their sleeves rolled up, moving furniture, was the result. This was really no novelty for Sir Benjamin’s heir. One of the first jobs that Benjamin 11. was instructed in was handyman at the Majestic Theatre at Newtown. That was some years ago. however, and now he acts in an executive capacity, having wisely learned the business from the very beginning. Scene-shifting and stage-setting is still being carried on by the house staff. The trouble arose over several men being summarily dismissed. It has been suggested that these hands were going in any case, and that Mr. Douglas got in first. Michael the Builder

On the eastern side of the entrance to St. Mary’s Cathedral is a vacant space all ready for a statue. It faces that of Cardinal Moran, a notable work in bronze by Sir Bertram Mackennal. During the Eucharist Conference in Sydney, it was freely rumoured that it was being reserved for Archbishop Kelly—Michael the Builder, as he has been called—who completed the finest Gothic edifice in the Southern Hemisphere. For once Dame Rumour was right.

Sydney Roman Catholics have decided to erect a statue of their Archbishop on the vacant pedestal. It will cost £3,000. It would appear though, that the scarlet hat for Dr. Kelly is a long time coming: its presentation by the Pope was also freely spoken of a,t the time of the great Congress. It is many years since Australia had a Cardinal. Australians have an intense regard for the fearless and outspoken oid man called Michael the Builder, and would rejoice if he achieved such a signal distinction. Late Chief Secretary

The death of Mr. Bruntwell, Chief Secretary in the Bavin Cabinet, has left a Ministerial gap that will be extremely difficult to fill for more reasons than one. Mr. Bruntwell, who for some years worked in New Zealand as a Salvationist officer, was a man with few political enemies. He was liked in every quarter of the Assembly, and that is saying a good deal these days for a Nationalist Minister. For the time being the Premier has assumed the principal vacant portfolio. Minor ones have been allotted to other Ministers. It is considered that Messrs. Martin, Anderson, Mark Morton, Jackson, Weaver and Arkins are likely candidates for Ministerial rank. Popular opinion favours Mr. Weaver, an able and skilful debater, and one of the city representatives. By profession he is an accountant. Possible Nationalist candidates for the Parramatta seat include Messrs. T. H. Morrow, B. J. Doe, J. H. Davies. Stanley Moxham, Alderman Collett and Brig-adier-General Lloyd. A petition has also been presented to Sir Arthur Cocks, Treasurer in the Fuller Government, asking him to stand. Parramatta is regarded as a “safe” Government seat. There is not likely to be any change there. Dale Austen’s Screen Debut.

Dale Austen (“Miss New Zealand”), made her screen debut at a private screening of “The Bushranger” during

the week. The New Zealand girl j acted naturally and simply in a minor role, and won the approval of the Sydney critics gathered in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer theatre, a diminutive , affair on the roof of a 12-storey build- : ing in Elizabeth Street. As a picture, however, this Hollywood view of the mad. bad days in Australia’s infancy, fell short. It was very amusing for the Australians to see the hero w’ield a boomerang with the dexterity of an aborigine. The Royal Voice Mention of the movies recalls the fact that I heard “the Royal voice”— it was advertised as such —during the week. The voice was that, of course, of King; George. An enterprising American cameraman “shot” the King for the “talkies” when he recently opened the Newcastle-on-Tyne Bridge. Keen interest was manifested in the film owing to his Majesty’s illness which followed immediately afterwards. It was a delight to hear the King’s decisive, cultured English after observing the compressed lips of President Coolidge, or listening to ex-President Taft’s speech whistle through a toothless aperture in his mouth. The King, however, was not as good a “talkie” subject as Bernard Shaw. To my mind he is the finest example of the “talkie” heard in Sydney to date, with Benito Mussolini second, and Raquel Meller (the Spanish Edna Thomas) third. Baby Welfare Plunket fathers were ready to welcome Sir Truby King when he arrived from New Zealand during tne week. The object of Sir Truby’s visit is to ascertain whether it would be feasible to establish in Sydney a branch of the Karitane Products Society. The reason for his hurried return to Wellington, for he leaves again on Friday, is that he wishes to attend the opening of the medicos’ conference in New Zealand on February 12. Sir Truby on one occasion created quite a stir at a luncheon which he addressed in this city. As is often the case at these gatherings business men, as 2 p.m. approached, were anxious to return to their offices. Some attempted to leave the room. The Plunket knight, thoroughly enthused on the subject of baby welfare, became angry. “I insist that you shall hear what I have to say,” he shouted. “I’m an old man. I have «jnot much longer to live. What I have to say to you is of the utmost importance!” The gathering sat until Sir Truby King had completed his address. Among the Maoris Frank Hutchens and Walter Thorman, of the N.S.W. Conservatorium staff, write from New Zealand to say that they have been enjoying a holiday in the Wanganui district. At Koroniti, on the river, they were given a characteristic Maori welcome. The musicians acknowledged this, they said, by responding with a concert at which 200 Maoris listened with interest to a programme on which such names figured as Grieg, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and Moussorgsky. As to the Maoris, Mr. Hutchens says their voices proved “of sweet quality and perfect in intonation.” Sir Eric Geddes Another great captain of industry is visiting Australia. Sir Eric Geddes, who was a member of the Imperial War Cabinet, and was regarded as one of Mr. Lloyd George’s war “finds,” is in Melbourne. After a short visit to Sydney Sir Eric is due to leave by the Mooltan from Adelaide on February 14, so his stay in Australia is necessarily a short one. From Dunedin Mrs. Fitchett, wife of Dr. Frank Fitchett, of Dunedin, and her daughter Diana, were arrivals by the Ulimaroa. They left yesterday for a 12-months’ trip to England and the Continent. —ERIC RAMSDEN.