![Times Past: May 26, 1933 Times Past: May 26, 1933](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/Yecs3Py5qDsXRaXHGQZdPb/fdaa1a5b-389d-4ca6-969e-8730339b6639.JPG/r103_0_1373_1788_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Those were the days. Back when politicians saw a national interest in building up Canberra at the expense of other cities.
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Back in 1933, the front page was bringing the happy news to the pioneering community in the capital that they'd soon have more friends coming their way.
The transfer of a federal department from Melbourne to Canberra had been the topic of cabinet discussions and it was understood a decision had been made that either the Department of Commerce or the Auditor-General's Department would be sent north.
"It was learned on a high authority that it is proposed to spend more money in the Federal Capital Territory than has been the case for many years,'' the report said.
There was more promising news for the city on the same page, with a bill to be debated on the establishment of a Supreme Court for the national capital.
And, because who doesn't like news of death-defying world records, the front page also carried a piece on a Danish parachutist setting a world record with a 21,000-foot jump from an air force bomber.
The intrepid John Tranum explained to reporters his motivation: "Experts had said that a longer drop than the duration of 15,000 feet would cause a fatal strain on the heart. I simply had to prove them wrong.''
Sadly, two years later another attempt at a 30,000-foot record got the better of Tranum. After reaching the jump height he suddenly signalled to the pilot to descend and when they reached the ground he was found dead. It was believed that his oxygen supply was faulty.