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By Sydneysides[?]

Sydney is the hub of the South Pacific, and its now* i* * news. Here are some of the things that made July-AugusTheadli

August Bank Holiday—a hark back to the Wild Colonial Days, probably, as all the Australian States don’t observe it—was the usual piebald affair in Sydney.

Banks, State public service, in surance, shipping companies and the Courts all took Monday, August 3, off; for other Sydney siders it was business as usual. * * * Mr. Ivan Kurdiukov, Russia’s new ambassador to Australia— the first since the great recall after the Petrov case in 1954 arrived in Sydney in early hours of August 5 and went smartly off to Canberra the next day. There one of his first public appear ances was at the Bolshoi Ballet, currently touring this country doubtless with this glad-hand gimmick in view. * * * MIGRATION PLUS: Australia’s population was increased per ceptibly one day in early August with the arrival of the Dutch vessel Sibajak carrying the migrating Van Dijks (mama, papa and the 14 kids) and the Reivers, also 16 strong. Neither family was at full battalion strength, the Van Dijks being missing one son and one daughter, and the Reivers one son. * * BEST SELLER: Sales of Bibles in Sydney have trebled in last six months. The reason (according to the Rev. Gordon Powell of fashionable Presby terian St. Stephens): Dr. Billy Graham’s recent crusade. * * *

Business (Big) : Ans E 11

Transport Industries bid to take over Guinea Holdings Ltd. was not favoured by some share holders, but Ansett was not un duly put out about this, and expects to win in the end.

Since acquiring ANA a couple of years ago, Mr. Reg Ansett’s once minor airline company has swallowed Butler Air Transport, also. (Guinea Holdings, of course, is mostly just that these days, its airline business being of secondary importance.) The only air company left to give Ansett-ANA a run for its money is the Commonwealth Government-owned Trans Aus tralia Airlines, and as an in teresting sidelight on this rivalry, air-minded Aussies have watched, with interest, the battle of the coloured tails. Mr. Ansett had

the tails of his kites paint© vivid scarlet some months s now TAA has come out v tails and wing-tips done s bright, fluorescent orange. Iti makes for brighter skyways i * * * TRADE DEPT.: Fiji may think Australian rice “tan (according to a correspondem this issue) but Canada is w mg to give it a go to the tun.j 0,000 tons to be shipped ff Sydney this month. * * *

One Man’S Meat, Et

Easing of import restrictions the tune of £5O million per ann has pleased Associated Chamlf of Commerce, but made Ass« ated Chambers of Manufactui a little unhappy. Amongst th who received the news with • alloyed joy were Scotch whii drinkers, dispensers and : porters. Scotch has been in sli supply for a long time; but are promised that by Christn there will be plenty for everyo * * jfc

Petrol Round T.

CLOCK: Although they operating successfully in otj States, everyone, including Mines Dept, and explosives perts, has been called in to to find a reason to keep s(i service petrol pumps out of S;< ney. Minister for Labour and i dustry Maloney is writhing dilemma: Motorists want the the State Government does: because it plans to licence serv stations so that they can be < licenced if caught selling pet out of legal trading hours; s the Unions are dead aaginst tv bob-in-the-slot petrol pumi “because they might cause v employment”. Said a Uni. spokesman: “If we don’t puu stop to this thing somewhere, ■ day might come when grocer can be bought from a a machine.”

No doubt with this paralyss thought in mind, Mr. Malon has had the last word to dae That even if not found actus dangerous, the petrol machii could work only within “les trading hours”. We’d like to Mr. Maloney that he’s ui mately going to be proved wro —but in the meantime it lo<( like a big job for someone ■ see that the vending machbi already operating in this c.c dispensing ginger-pop, lemonas cigarettes, ice, and chocolatj etc., close up tight at 6 p.m.