A VISIT TO QUEENSLAND.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 292, 3 September 1908, Page 4

A VISIT TO QUEENSLAND.

♦—: THE PRICE OF LAND. Mr. A. E. Mabin. manager of Messrs. Levin and Co.'s wool and hemp department, who returned from a pleasure trip to Queensland yesterday, told a Dominion reporter that he visited tho country to ascertain whether everything stated regarding that land of promise was correct. And you found—? "That everything was up to the mark," ho replied. "I went prepared to ourso, but I returned to bless, l'ho country is totally different: to New Zealand, and, naturally, tho conditions diffor also, but for a mail who is a practical farmer and who wishes to go ill for land, jt comes to a question of paying high prices iii New Zealand or low ones in Queensland. Personally, I would liavo no hesitation in taking Queensland land, but I would not suggest for a moment that anyono hero in., possession of a good property should sell it in exchango for his chances on the other side, but a man with a small capital would bo ablo to invest tbc whole of it in stock in Queensand, whereas a man in Now Zealand would, have to expend his capital in the land. Prices thero are ridiculously low, and State grazing Innd can bo had from -£d. per aero rental per annum to £8 or £9 per aero for the freehold. Tho low rate mentioned would, of'course, apply to land a good distance from tho railways, but between tho two, thero was a large margin and a man could chooso. "With a year's supply of lucerno on hand, a man could go through any season." SISAL HEMP. In reply to a question regarding sisal hemp in Queensland, Mr. Mabin said that tho general opinion in Brisbano was that it Was not likely to be a competitor witli New Zealand ilax. So far as binder twino was concerned, it could not compete, but it would do for rope-making and mixing with nunila ropes. New Zealand was not affected to any extent except that manufacturers considered that they wero being compelled to uso substitutes for New Zealand Ilax, owing to tho high pricos obtaining. Manila could bo landed in Australia moro cheaply than flax could bo .produced horo, owing'.to the present labour conditions, and if theso wero allowed 1 to continuo our libre would bo pushed out of ] tho market. That was tho opinion of Aus- i ,-f.rulian oonsumcrs. J