Evening star., 1947-07-13
Postwar Restrictions Severe
In Australia, Traveller Finds


exchange, and only two courses with
coffee. tea or milk are permitted. In
reality food is plentiful in the main,
but by government edict, sub
stantial portion is being sent to the
British Isles and to the Neither
lands Indies.
Wool Market Shifts.
Coupons are necessary for butter,
meat, sugar, gasoline and clothing,
except that made from woolen ma
terials. All of Australia's woolen
goods are free of coupons because
of the wonderful supply of wool in
Australia from her vast sheep
ranches. 1t is of superior quality
and moderate in price. Japan was
once Australia's best customer for
her fine merino wool. Today her
markets are being turned toward
the Americas and Europe.
Hosiery is scarce except for
rayons and most women are doing
without. American nylons are at
a premium. Wartime activities and
the general inability to secure
girdles at any price has cost many
Australian women their once trim
figures.
Strikes cut off the daily flow of
gas in her fathers home during the
better part of her visit. 1t was re-
leased only by volunteer labor. one
hour in the morning, one at noon
and one and half hours in the late
afternoon. Since this necesSitated
cooking roast and joints in relays.
the supply of chops and steaks for
quick broiling was soon exhausted
because of the unnatural demand,
Miss Mackay commented. Many
people set up outside ovens like out
of-doors grllls, and managed in this
way. This was all very we'll for the
summer and fall but will not do for
the present which is Australia's
winter season. Hot water for baths
had to be carried in buckets to the
bathrooms"
Due to the frequent strikes, few
trains were running on their regular
schedules, and transportation of all
kinds was difficult. Those who pos
sessed bicycles considered them
selves fortunate.
y Brings Souvenirs to U. S.
Miss Mackay, who first came to
the United States as the house guest
of Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Parsons
Erwin of this city, made the journey
home in a two-Way air flight. She
was one of the is outgoing pas
sengers from America on the first
postwar trip of Australian National
Airways which crossed in 36 flying
hours with day and half stop in
Hawaii and another day of rest in
Fiji This contrasts with the 81
days usually necessary by sea.
AS souvenirs of her homeland visit
she brought back several book-ends
fashioned out of the new Australian
metal similar to bronze. They are
the handiwork of Ola Cohn. "Ola
Cohn's Fairy Tree" representative of
Australia's characteristic animals.
interspersed with a quaint mingling
of gnomes and fairies is one OF the
features of Melbourne's internation-
ally known "Fitzroy Gardens" Miss
Mackay pointed out.
Miss .Mackays grandfather was
Angus Mackay, ST., a well-known
member of Parliament.
He fostered free government educa-
ton and was the author of much
legislation affecting the welfare of
miners He was the owner and pub
Usher of the Bendigo Advertiser and
the Sydney Daily Telegraph. The
latter became known as the cradle
of Australian journalism" because
it trained editors for the major
Melbourne papers, including the
Argus.
One of the family treasures which
Miss Mackay wears frequently is
gold brooch made for her grand
mother by the Goldminers' Associ-
alton at the time of the visit Of the
Duke Of Edinburgh. A facsimile Of
one presented to the duchess. 1t
features in fascinating miniature
Ill Vi ttc dppldllCco uoCu III 1AOIit1CA
and is framed in design
Of eucalyptus leaves.
During Miss Mackay's visit she
was hnnored by the members of the
Theater in Bendigo which
she founded. It has endured with
such success that 1t has become
part of the community life.
With Winston Churchill she shares
an unusual vocation. An excellent
bricklayer. she had laid thousands
of feet of brick for garden walls
and terraces, but unlike Great
Britain's former Prime Minister
she failed to achieve union men,
bership for her accomplishments
with mortar and trowel. But in her
girlhood days neighbors were al
ways bringing her their torn-down
chimneys so that she could utilize
them in her hobby. Now she uses
her after-career hour energies In
the study OF Spanish and In aquatic
sports.
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