NORTHERN TERRITORY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1711, 31 March 1913, Page 6

NORTHERN TERRITORY.

A WHITE MAN'S COUNTRY. Tho Administrator 'of' tho Northern Territory (Dr. J. A. Gilruth) arrived in Sydney on Friday last. , Tho present, ho explained to a pressman, was an opportune time for him to leave the Territory. The end of the wet season was approaching, and lis; considered it would be tetter for him to make his'trip south before the dry season set in, when there would be much moro activity in every branch of industry. He' had 'experienced both wet and dry seasons ill the Territory, and had never been in better health in his life. The Government must face the fact that large sums must be expended in opening up a great country like tho Territory and bringing U to a productive *tnge. It was the Jirst attempt made in the history of the Empire to develop a tropical country with white labour, and he wes more firmly convinced than ever that there was nothing in the character of the soil or climate to prevent the "White Australia ideal being carried out there.' The farming "experiments. so far as_ tliev had gone m tho short 'time they had been at work, had given satisfactory results. The ouly drawback to, rapid progress was lack of proper coinmimicition, "which "would be overcome in due time. Ho had strong faith in the future of the Territory; indeed ho believed that it would eventually become one of the leading and most prosperous parts of the Commonwealth. As to the site'for tho Territory s iuturo capital, he said-it was important, whatever area'"was chosen, that it should bo secured 'without delay. Bitter Spring wis the centre point of tho best land, and there was .a- very filio supply of spring water there. , Pastoral matters were very timet. As a matter of fact, pastoralists were not prepared to do anything till freezing works were established. He hoped to luivu these ir ein ,r as soon as the railway was opened To tile Catherine. It was no uso thinking, of opening the works at an earlier ,lal4 because of the dilhe.u ty ot tl'avellin"' stock over the dry bull of country between Catherine and Tine Creek. About 10.0110 head of rattle per year were wanted to make the works pay, and the nartoralWs had guaranteed that number, provided the railway was established ami the works built.