BUSY SYDNEY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 703, 1 July 1929, Page 11

BUSY SYDNEY

MELBOURNE IN THE DOLDRUMS EARTHQUAKE FRIGHTENS AUSTRALIANS "Sydney is very busy; it has not been affected by the strike, but Melbourne is in the doldrums." Mr. T. Davidson, general manager of John Court, Ltd., made the above observations this morning on the Makura. He has been spending a six weeks’ holiday in Australia, visiting most of the places of interest. Mr. Davidson says that business folk in Melbourne are terribly pessimistic, due principally to the strikes. The shops there were not so busy as they were when he saw them two years ago, but Sydney was exactly the opposite. "Yes, the earthquake caused a sensation over there,” Mr. Davidson replied to a question. “If one went into a bank or any place of business questions were always asked about it. The general opinion was that the ’quake had been much worse than it really was, but when the pictures showing the damage arrived the people gasped. "I heard many people say that they would not care to come to New Zealand, and I found it difficult to convince them that it was not so dangerous as they imagined." Speaking of trade relations between the Dominion and Australia, Mr. Davidson said he found that the average man seemed to think that New Zealand was up against, the Commonwealth with her tariffs. The Aucklander attended the reception to the All Blacks in Sydney, and was impressed by the cordial feelings which existed. "The welcome our fellows received made one feel that if New Zealand did lose the first match she would lose it with pleasure," he added. Mr. Davidson also saw ilie LeckieScarron fight. He says that Leckie received a fair thrashing, but the public was with him. The decision was very popular.