Home Base

By Sydneysider

Sydney is the hub of the South Pacific, and its news is youn news. Here are some of the things that made March headlines.

Promising Pat, they called NSW Liberal Party leader P. H.

Morton after he made (on March 3) his policy-speech for the forthcoming NSW elections (on March 21). In one breathless hour of politicalese, he promised new deals for public transport, education, housing, health, works and most other things that affect the personal lives of approxi mately 4,000,000 New South Welshmen and not even his political opponents could say that the reforms were not de sirable.

All this left Premier Cahill with not much to be done but stand on his record; new promises after 20 years in office don’t make much appeal to even this apathetic electorate. * * * After being coyly reticent about election date for months, Premier Cahill announced it on February 16, and five hours later the electoral rolls were smartly closed. This, according to Mr.

Morton, disfranchised an esti mated 28,000 dilly-dallying elec tors who never enroll till they must. Said Mr. Cahill, serve them right; they knew it was on, some time before May 17. * * *

Personality Kid: Sydney’S

eccentric Bea Miles is back in circulation again. We saw her riding Castlereagh Street buses the other day (without paying, of course). When up before the Beak, Bea, who must now be well into her 50’s, gives her occupation as student, though in dications are she might have something new in mind. She still wears the same old eyeshade, but a fairly new addition to her toilet is a small notice-board slung round her neck saying that, for a modest few bob, she will give readings from Shakespeare. It may be not as eccentric as it looks. If one is a professional reader of Shakespeare, it’s just that much more difficult to be run-in for vagrancy. * * * WILD LIFE: Sir Edward Hallstrom, refrigerator million aire, philanthropist and chair man of Sydney’s Taronga Park Zoo Trust, says that San Diego Zoo could have had some koala bears from his own private sanctuary without going to the trouble of petitioning Queen Elizabeth like they’ve done. (But before Sir Edward can send them he still has to get permission from the Federal Minister for Customs and the NSW Chief Secretary.)

Fun And Games Departi

MENT: Amongst those who wen; not pleased by Promising PaU policy speech, were the socisi clubs of the State who float alonn on the easy profits made by On© Armed Bandits, otherwise poken; machines. As a compromise witf the Country Party which wantes to ban the lot, the Libs haw promised to do away with thd 2/- machines. Registered Cluhc Association president says thi move will be “resented”. Churchi men, that it’s a move in thi right direction.

At one time long ago, Bandit ate threepences; then thes graduated to sixpences. Now 6o> machines are an oddity, whili the regular kind have a steadfc diet of shillings. Clubs that an keen on quicker turnover anr bigger returns go in for the two bob variety. * * ♦

Winter Draws On: Sydney

hasn’t seen them yet but (protd ably by winter) it is to get 288 new buses with “improved ventL lation”. It can do with therm The only difference, in summeie between the present type and Turkish-bath is that the bus© have wheels. * * *

Milk With Plain Straws

Although kids in other State have been drinking their mill, through flavoured and sweetenee straws (they come in chocolated raspberry, caramel, etc, and maid the milk taste that way, tooo since last year, NSW kids are stli denied the pleasure. The idea was introduced to Australia by tennix professional Frank Sedgmarr who got a licence to make pam of the straws in Australia anr import the rest from the Uniteo States. At present £30,000 wortf of Mr. Sedgman’s straws are hell; up in NSW while Health Depart!ment busy-bodies yell No, No!

No. The trouble is the saccarim with which the straws are imri pregnated to supply the sweetenn ing ingredient, Saccarine as sweetening agent is not permittes in NSW because “it has no fooo value”. (This is about as com trary a piece of health reasoninn as we’ve seen. Concurrently, world seminar on dental disease; and decay, sitting in Adelaide has been wrestling with thrf problem: What can we give chili dren in place of sugar, sweets ann biscuits. Maybe the answer i Frank Sed g m a n’s flavoured straws.)