He Finds Sydney

Peole Shy

The writer of this article, Mr. S. M. Mudalier, is a I\-year-old, Fiji-born Indian, who arrived in Sydney from Suva in June “to better himself”. In Suva he had a job as a clerk, and in Sydney—despite the fact that he has slender means—he hopes to complete an accountancy course, lasting three years, which will better equip him for the future when he returns to Fiji— as he must, under Australia’s immigration laws. Mr. Mudalier has a wife and three children at home in Suva, but his wife and he feel his sacrifice is worth it. There is a great longing for education and improvement in Fiji, and there are far more applicants for scholarships than can win them, which is one reason why Mr. Mudalier has not got one. Figures released in Suva in August showed there are at the moment 126 students from Fiji studying on scholarships in eight countries, and that another 400 students are studying privately, paying their own way as Mr. Mudalier is. Of the scholarship students, 56 are in NZ, 31 are in Australia and the others are widely distri buted in places such as India, the UK and Trinidad. A very small proportion of the scholarships are given by Australia, and the Commonwealth Govern ment, which spends millions annually on the Colombo Plan for Asia, could do far more to help the South Pacific Territories. Meanwhile we publish Mr.

Mudalier’s short piece on his impressions of his first visit to Sydney not because they might be representative, which they probably aren’t, but because they are of interest as a fresh view-point.

By S. M. Mudalier

“I am thinking of returning home to Auckland,” said a visitor, to me, in Sydney’s Pitt Street. “Here in Sydney the people are unfriendly.”

I KNEW what he meant. This was my impression of Sydneysiders at first. But now I’m beginning to find out what my friends have been tell ing me—that Sydney people are shy to talk to strangers because they think an approach may be misunder stood.

I like Sydney. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t see some peculiar things, or that there are some things that I don’t like.

Sydney is too large really, too hec tic, perhaps too cosmopolitan. It’s a progressive city where west meets east, but it lacks sufficient recrea tional areas and good roads and in this it loses out to Auckland. Auck land’s spacious parks and look-out points are its main features.

Certainly Sydney’s good sandy

beaches make up for a lot, and the harbour and famous Harbour Bridge, are magnificent. The visitor notes with interest the numerous ferries dashing about the water.

I found the citizens of Sydney are rather crazy on horse racing and all outdoor sports.

And I found that Sydneysiders mostly talk in riddles. As a foreigner I have often been puzzled by some things. But I was surprised—and de lighted—to learn from one Austra lian who had just returned home after seven years in England that he also was puzzled by some of the con versation!

There is no doubt that Anaa are easy-going people and that standard of living is comp y high. They are not toe ► nch ;nor too p ? or “ the , J^ e J* , y distributed among the workers, But because of these good living conditions in Sydney, I think that, as in most Western countries, the people here are not too inclined towards re hgion.

And at the momen , i thing of an unemployment ensis with many people out of work, there

has been a certain gloom, and some people are now resorting to begging tea money on the streets (or is it for beer?). I have been dispossessed of quite a few florins myself.

Another feature wh v h is a novelty to me in Sydney is tl presence of high fences and walls m many of the homes and mo: t homes are large and beautiful. But neighbours are separated from each other. This is u.ilike New Zealand, where beau tiful gardens and low trimmed hedges not only dignify the houses but give a friendly atmosphere.

Perhaps these fences, and the shy ness of the people to talk to strangers in public, helped give my Auckland friend the impression that Australians are aloof.

I was surprised that you don’t see any aborigines in the city. Unlike the NZ Maori, they are not allowed inside public bars for a drink with out a permit. But for others drink in Sydney is in plenty.

Australia takes an active interest in Asia, and plays a big part, through the Colombo Plan and other schemes, in helping there—while also main taining her own way of life.

But she is a Pacific continent, too, and she could introduce a bright new era of help and assistance as a bul wark for her South Pacific neighbours —with fascinating Sydney the hub.

NOT INDIA. But Fiji, with the classical pose being provided by Miss Akbar at the recent Nadi Chamber of Commerce Festival.