A New Zealander in Sydney Town

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 987, 2 June 1930, Page 13

A New Zealander in Sydney Town

THE SEN'S Sydney Correspondc t SYDNEY'. May 29. Bridge of Goodwill Although New Zealanders are very I impressed with the Sydney Harbour bridge, the spans of which are now j rapidly approaching ihe centre, according to the New Zealand Government Trade and Tourist Commissioner « Mr. L. J. Schmitt •. there is am ther bri - with which they are equally impressed. Mr. Schmitt, who arrived to take up his duties in Australia by the ! Marama this week, informed news* 1 papermen that he referred to “a j bridge of goodwill across the Tasman. ’As an Australian born, with wide exI perience in both countries, he should : understand the difficulties —not to mention the prejudices —of both At | ihe moment. Mr. Schmitt is in Cau--1 berra presenting liis credentials to ! the Prime Minister (Mr. Scullin'. The Flying Heroine If Australia, and Sydney in particular. dearly loves a hero and that is certainly true, then it is equally certain that it loves a heroine as much again. Amy Johnson, throughout the week, has been the principal topic of conversation. Every women's organisa- | tion in Sydney has insisted in paying her honour. This hero-worship of the plucky Y'orkshire girl recalls the experience a few years ago of Miss Beryl Mills, the first “Miss Australia. " Sydney went mad. completely mad. over her. Whenever Miss Mills appeared in a car in the streets, traffic rules went by the board. She was rushed, pushed, jostled—in fact. s!> was lucky to be alive most of the time. Nowadays, nappily married : a member of “The Guardian ' staff, and forgotten by the crowds who fought so eagerly for a glimpse of her. “Miss Australia” (No. 1) can soliloquise—if she is of a philosophical frame of mind —upon the fickleness of a laudatory public. Others have done it before her. More will do it again. Gifts for the Flying Girl Meanwhile, Amy Johnson has public attention focussed upon her, ana deservedly so. The fund opened by a Sydney newspaper has steadily increased. despite hard times; though it will look absurdly small besides the £IO,OOO that the “Daily Mail” has offered Miss Johnson. Gifts of every description are pouring in from every part of the Commonwealth. Already, the flying girl is in a position to demand her own terms by way of advertising contracts in preferences far face creams, hair tonics, and the hundred and one essentials that the fair sex insist upon. One enterprising firm of Brisbane dressmakers, the head of which is a Yorkshireman, telegraphed to Darwin for Miss Johnson's measurements. When she arrived in that city a complete outfit, including evening attire, was awaiting her. One gift of a most practical character was the cabled authority from Lord Inchcape to provide her with first-class steamer a< commodation for return' to England, and deck space for “Jason's Que- . her gallant little Moth. A Gum-chewing p oet During the week 1 had a curious young visitor. Wheiher gum-chewing was really of any great assistance to Herbert Lawdor. a youthful American poet who is now touring the world on a French cargo steamer, I never really ascertained. Perhaps it had something to do with the metre. He certainly did tell me that he once wrote a poem in a Pullman on the way to Chicago, and between chews emphasised the effect that the clanging of the express had upon his verse. Mr. Lawdor was the type of American poet upon whom skyscrapers, immense girders, slanting sunlight, orange peel, and women all hsd influence. Somehow, they seemed to be mixed in a rather heady "whoopee” cocktail. Altogether, it was just a little bewildering. Nevertheless. Mr. Lawdor was an extremely pleasant young man, eager to learn all about the habits of kangaroos, and, when he visits India next month, most anxious to meet Mahatma Gandhi. What was more, he assiduously kept a diary —a typewritten one. too. That earned him my wholehearted respect. Dick Stewart Retires

Dick Stewart, brother of “Sweet Nell,” and son of another Dick who made early Australian theatrical history, has retired after 40 years’ association with the firm of Williamson. Mr. Stewart used to declare that he had lived half of his life in a dress suit. For the last seven years he was manager of the Criterion Theatre. One of his greatest friends was the late Bert Royle. who for many years guided the J.C.W. destinies in New Zealand. City Council Elections

One of the surprises of the Labour nominations for the City Council elections, a campaign which is now in active progress, was the dropping of P. V. Stokes, a former Lord Mayor of Sydney. It was during the Stokes regime that the Labour aldermen became so impossible that a more moderate section of the community decided that the City Council must be replaced by City Commissioners, men above party and beyond reproach. Another sensation was the fact that a slight mistake was determined in the endorsement of Donald Grant, one of the extremist leaders. Donald, too, whose powerful denunciation of the existing capitalist system may be heard in the Domain any Sunday afternoon, was, so to speak, left at the post. It is whispered that he was considered too red to be a Labour alderman. Just precisely what is the difference between the respective colours of Donald Grant and Jock Garden I do not know. Meanwhile, the latter, the undoubted “boss” of Sydney Trades Hall, is merrily continuing with his Surry Hills campaign. And what is more, if Labour wins the election —and that is by no means a remote possibility —Jock Garden is likely to be Labour Lord Mayor of Sydney. Honour for Sir Douglas Mawson. The Mueller memorial medal, which has been awarded to Sir Douglas Mawson, leader of the recent Antarctic expedition, commemorates the services to Australia of Baron von Mueller, a former Government botanist in Victoria. The award has been made to Sir Douglas in appreciation oi" his contribution to geological and geographical science. ERIC RAMSDEN.