AUSTRALASIA'S GREAT, NEED.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 154, 24 March 1908, Page 3

AUSTRALASIA'S GREAT, NEED.

YOUNG AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS

, Mr. Williamson Wallace, formerly-Director of"Agriculture in Victoria, was-., in Sydnoy recently, ■ having como over .from New Zealand on his way to Melbourne. When seen by a representative of " The Ago,"., lie said that tho greatest need of both Australia and Now Zealand 'was tho occupation' of land. There wero not many farmers in the United Kingdom willing to como out to occupy land, as jit is not regarded as such a gieat advantage as.: it. onco; was,,'besidesi land, has risen in prico in Auslfralasia. Money,' too, is more plentiful,- and itlio- difference, in profit.is not so oxtensivo as it used to be. If Australia is to be .quickly ■ populated in rural districts tho only thing to do was to import young , agricultural labourers. The youiig mail .in Scotland who was perfect in all farm work got only 18s. per ,week, without, lodgings or ■ board, : which .cost him 95.or 10s. per week.-..He'had practically only, Bs. left for clothes, tobacco, etc., whereas in Australia tho sanio ty.po of man could, easily earn £1 to 255. perNve-elc, .board and lodging included. With a very few? years' economy, on his 'part,- he would bo in a position to; begin farming in a'small.way on his own If tho country' was to bo populated with farmers with capital his opinion was that it would be a very slow process, whereas it coiild ,bo dono with, comparative ease-by importing farm labourers, as long as tho wages Wero maintained , at tho present rat-e-s.

"I am quite, convinced,"- Mr. Wallace added, " that aftor a few thousand .Scotsmen succeeded in Australia they would bring many thousands moro of their own friends. Young ploughmen and labourers left Scotland last year for. Canada,, and if they had known what awaits • them hero and had rccoived - assistance to como they would havo como to Australia. Tather than havo gone to a placo with a climate liko Canada. Tho fact is that everyone knows about' Canada, whereas the information concerning Australia is exceedingly meagre. It will bo, years boforo Australia, howover busy, will bo'able to disseminato knowledge liko Canada, which has had' a long start, and Australia will havo to; work hard to overtake it." . • — 1