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By Sydneysider
Sydney is the huh of the South Pacific, and its news is youn news. Here are some of the things that made March headlines.
Only thing to emerge from the hot political issue that is convulsing Sydney, NSW and Australia—to wit, the proposed pay increases for Federal Parlia mentarians a la the Richardson report—is that although all Members are greedily eyeing the plums, so far most of them have been too politically scared to do more with their thumbs than prospect around the edge of the pie. Meantime editorial desks are piled feet high with letters from seething citizens.
Proposed increases: Basic salary for all members up £4OO to £2,750; electoral allowance up £250; travel allowance (i.e., when in Canberra during sitting of House) £4 per day.
Junior Ministers, in addition to the basic salary above, will get £2,250 plus electoral allowance of £1,250 plus travel allowance of £lO per day. Senior Ministers: Basic plus £3,250 plus electoral allowance of £1,500 plus travel allowance of £l2 per day. Prime Minister: Basic plus £7,250 plus £3,500 special allowance plus £l5 per day allowance. Opposition Leader: Basic plus £3,250 plus special allowance in addition to electoral allowance of £1,500 plus £l2 per day travel allowance.
The Treasurer, Deputy PM and Deputy Opposition Leader also get specialist treatment. There are increases all round in pen sions and special privileges like use of official cars for some, even three years after being defeated or retiring from Parliament. * * * Hotels in this State are in a Parlous Plight, according to the secretary of ULVA—all because of licensed clubs (which can “gain immense revenue from poker machines, pay no tax on profits, can trade 24 hours a day and provide no accommoda tion.”) It’s probably true, too, although the hotels had a hand in bringing it on themselves. Be fore the granting of club licences was liberalised some years ago, hotel service to the public was virtually nil. Except on the liquor side it is still nil, in many cases. But the present Govern ment permitted the clubs and now it’s worried about the pubs. * * * Also in parlous plight are the picture theatres—for which, ac cording to owners, you can blame (believe it or not), the pubs and, of course, television. After liquor hours were extended to 10 p.m. some years ago, and some of the
bigger suburban drinkeries begai, to put on live artist showr attendances at picture theatre fell off. When TV bowed in three years ago, that really adminii stered the coup de gract Suburban theatres are closiru right left and centre; and thos still functioning are usually les than half full. To stimulat) new interest, theatre interest have recently been running bii newspaper advertisements: Talc your wife to the pictures; tonight!
We don’t know how many haw —but an even better gimmic: might be to provide bette movies. * * *
Ancient History: In Cas
you are still interested, Promise ing Pat Morton didn’t make i in the NSW State elections o:< March 21. The Labour Govt was returned with the same oil majority of four, and Premie: Cahill is now set to pass, ii June this year, the recor premiership of seven years tw\ months and some odd dayr established years ago, by Sii Bertram Stevens.
TOGETHERNESS; This lates University craze, r e a c h e new levels of achievement ii March when 25 Sydney Ur students packed themselves “like layers of bottles” into standard-size PMG telephon booth. This feat was alleged t have bettered an effort ii Durban, South Africa, where 2 got into a bigger phone bootß * * *
Distinguished Visitors
Six mannequins from Japan, t< show high fashion with a oriental touch; Dr. Bill!
Graham, evangelist. * * * DEPARTING: Prime Ministe Menzies, Dame Pattie am party, for the States and Europe six koalas, also for the US (Sa.
Francisco and San Diego zoosl The PM and party are travellini by sea (by Or cades). The koala by plane, furnished with gum trees so they can travel in th comfort to which they an accustomed. There is more fue about the departure of th koalas than about that of PIV* with Sir Edward Hallstronr chairman of Taronga Zoo Trus winning hands down over con servatives who wanted to kee: the koalas at home.