Sunday Times (Sydney, NSW : 1895 - 1930), Sunday 19 February 1899, page 7


ABSURDLY UNFAIR. ?? -.

Speaking to Mr. A: £? Riley, of the firm of A. J. Rlley and Co., Pitt-straejt, that gentleman observed that the arrangement was an absurdly unfair one. ? 'The effect,'-said hei 'would be all In faY,or~'?of Victoria. Even supposing it only lasted five

years, Melbourne' would . gain, .auch* a'n ad' /varitage''ct»mmercially' thSt ip woutl(F*bie alni63timposslbletoovercome.it..:. 'The trade interests of Sydney would be very detrimentally effected bythe fact of the Governor-General residing in Melbourne, thus, drawing ail the expenditure ?following from the presence of the ..Viceregal court, an^. the accompanying entertainments and society gatherings. Ift' fact, Sydney would be simply 'cut of it,' as experience has 3hown that

WHERE THE GOVERNOR GOES THE MONEY-SPENDING CLASSES FOLLOW. It was the biggest mistake which could have been made, and he was of opinion that Sydney would suffer more than could be at present estimated. If there had been any reason for it it would not have been so bad, b'ut-the reasons were all the other way.

One of the proprietors of another of the ?leading' drapery firms in Pitt-street expressed the opinion that the arrangement would ICNOCK THE BOTTOM OUT OF SYDNEY TRADE. ? ? It would tend to make Melbourne the metropolis of Australia, for if it was. the. capital, say, foy eight or ten years, vested interests would be created which it would be a-lmo.Ht' impossible to fight against, and the; Capital would prabably remain at Melbourne for at least twenty years; The manager of a noted drapery establishment in George-street, though not quite 5P pronounced, said a iiian would be A COMMERCIAL- FOOL w.ho could not sea that if the Premiers' agreement .were- carried pu.t it would act to t^.e serious detriment of Sydney trade interests. Th6 weak point pf the arrangement was that no tern*' was fixed for the transference of the Capital to New South W^les. If that had li.een done we migut have been prepared tp b,earthe consequences with fortitude, t-ut, .as 'it is, .Melbourne would become

THE CENTRE OF FASHIONABLE, SOCIAL, AND COMMEjkCIAL IN' .' ' ' FLUENCE ? ' ?-for an indefinite period, aa.d as most of the piBcials would, probably be Victorla-ns, all the weight of their influence wQUld certainly trend in the direction 'of Melbourne aE against Sydney.