Service Section

In the Matter of Flats . . .

SINCE this Bureau was ingenuous enough, some months ago, to state that it would endeavour to find flats for visitors to Sydney, we have been besieged by eager Islands residents who want miracles performed for them. So much so that the whole thing has be come something of a nightmare. There fore, a word in season:— Our main function is still publishing; we are NOT an estate agency. Never at any time did we say we HAD flats to let. What we promised to do was to try to find furnished flats for short terms, where needed; taut it should be realised that there is a vast difference between trying to find a flat, and finding one.

We tackle the problem as a personal ser vice to you, trying to do what you would hesitate to ask your own family to do, if you appreciated the facts, it involves persistence; a blood-hound-like follow ing of clues; the exercise of what in fluence we may possess; the answering of advertisements; the placing of same; the writing of letters and innumerable tele phone calls; and, above all, the capacity to swallow the insolence and arrogance of would-be letters of flats who these days find themselves sitting on top of the world.

Now, a few words for your guidance: ■ The difficulty of obtaining flats of any description cannot be over-em phasised. ■ It is usually less difficult to get a good flat for two months than it is for, say, two weeks. The reason for this is that the type of place that caters for the weekly tenant is very often little ueuer man a flop-house, usually pre sided over by a blowsy landlady, of doubtful background, who, while making her living from the transitory tenant, appears to regard him as her mortal enemy, against whom she must wage a perpetual battle of wits. ■ The best fiats come from people who normally make them their homes but who, for reasons of pleasure or busi ness, have to leave them for two to six months. Amongst this class is the middle-aged or elderly woman of some private means, who finds it incumbent upon her occasionally to travel. On the suriace she nas a refinement that is terrifying. Underneath she has the resilience of a clockspring. She will let her flat — at a price; and under conditions which require everything in the way of credentials from her pro spective tenant short of a blood-test. ■ Few, if any, landlords/ladies are en thusiastic about children. n For a reasonably comfortable two bedroom flat you should be prepared to pay at least £6/6/- per week. b However, in case you despair, there are one or two advantages in being an Islands visitor. One is that you gen erally can prove that you are leaving the country within a specified time and that you therefore will not be likely to dig yourself in, in someone’s flat, and refuse to go in the required time.

Preliminary Fee

IN view of the demands made upon us by Islands residents requiring flats, we must ask, in future that 10/- be sent with such requests. This is not a service fee. It is simply to cover the preliminarv investigations—the cost of ’phone calls, postage stamps, tram fares, advertisements. What is not used on your behalf will be refunded to you. If we find you a flat you will then be

charged a service fee—anything up to £l, according to the length of time we have to spend on the job, but no more.

The rest of our Service Bureau func tions smoothly. With the exception of furnished flats, we can say that, if what you require exists in Australia, then we can get it for you.

Around Sydney Shops

Pressure Stoves, Engine Gas

KETS. —There is a firm in Sydney which will repair kerosene stoves, pressure stoves and lamps and most other kero sene and petrol appliances. This firm will also make copper cylinder-head gas kets for old model engines. Such gas kets are now unobtainable at spare parts establishments.

ENGINE PARTS—Another firm will make small engine parts such as timing gears, cams, cogs, etc., or will, if pos sible, repair same. Spare parts are still difficult to obtain in Australia and it seems likely that new spares for old model cars, trucks and cycles will not be available again. Wreckers and second hand part shops were combed out during the war and frequently the only way out of such difficulties is to have the old part repaired or a new one copied from it.

Cover Your Own Buttons.—

Patent button moulds are now available.

These allow you to make your own cov ered buttons. They are easy to assemble, and unlike ordinary covered buttons can not come apart in use. They can, how ever, be taken apart at will, and re covered as often as you desire. They are rust-proof and come in four sizes— approximately the size of 3d., 6d,, 1/and 2/- pieces. They are usually sold in packets of 2 doz. but can be bought by the single dozen. They cost from 1/5 to 2/5 \ per dozen according to size. In structions for assembling are included with each purchase.

MENDING. —Iron-on mending tissue is back again. This comes in heavy or light weights to suit the variety of fabrics you want to mend. With its help, patches can simply be ironed on; it can also be used for reinforcing the heels of socks and worn or thin patches on other clothing and materials. Materials so-mended can be washed. Cost is 1/3 per packet.