SYDNEY OF TO-DAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 April 1921, Page 12

SYDNEY OF TO-DAY.

UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM. MARQUEES IN HYDE PARK. The amount of unemployment prevailing in Sydney at the present time was remarked upon on Thursday by Mr. Oswald Beere, of Wellington, who has just returned from a visit to Australia. Mr. Beere stated that he had. been much struck by the number of unemployed in the streets and in the parks in Sydney and surrounding* districts. They.* were in evidence everywhere, and their numbers appeared to be increasing rapidly. The majority were old men who were no longer capable of manual labor, and younger men who were obviously physically unfit for hard work. It was the exception, however, to observe able bodied men out of work. The Government had been obliged to erect a marquee in Hyde Park to accommodate numbers of those who were out of work. Every day a body of unemployed march through the city to the Prime Minister’s offices, making demonstrations and demanding work. No definite steps had yet been taken “to eope with the situation. There was always a great deal of discontent industrially, but there was no outward sign of financial depression. There was a phenomenal attendance nightly at the theatres, and people seemed to be seeking pleasure to a greater extent than usual.

As far as the shops were concerned, prices of clothing and fancy goods in Sydney were no cheaper than in Wellington. He had received the impression that local prices were more reasonable as a general rule. Ho was struck with the poor appearance of the shops in the main streets as compared with Wellington, and also with the fact that the New Zealand woman has nothing to learn in the matter of dress from her Australian sister.

After an absence of eight years he found the city had grown not only in size but in population, which now totalled about a million. A "census was in progress during his visit, but the official figures were nof announced up to the time of his departure.