DROUGHT & WAR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2392, 23 February 1915, Page 7

DROUGHT & WAR

CONDITIONS IN ADSTBAIIA 'INTERVIEW WITH MR. C; M. LUKE . Mr. C. M. Lute, who has been attending a conference of 'the Methodist Missionary Board-in Melbourne, has returned 'to . Wellington, quito content with the conditions of fife offered in those isles as compared to those obtaining in the land of big distances across the Tasman Sea. In Sydney. Mr. Luke said , that bo had the pleasure, of renewing his acquaintance with old political friends whom he had mot when he had, visited Australia as a member .of the Rojjal Commission, on Federation. * In reviewing the attitude New Zealand had adopted on that momentous question, Mr. Luko said that there was increasing evidence of the wisdom' shown in the "decision then arrived at. Whilst there was something to be said for that community of interest that .might be established by a closer reciprocal tariff between v the two countries, he felt that the destiny of the Dominion could be better worked «ut through our own Legislature, and that whilst we may not have suffered irom an administrative point of view, under the ■ Federation, we would have been denied those political rights and privileges by which Wo are being en- ! abled to work out our future salvation to the greatest advantage, and reaoh our high ideals in a far shorter time than would have been' possible had '"we been merely a State owing allegiance to the great Commonwealth of Australia. "I prefer, ' with many others." said Mr. Luks, "to regard Australia as our elder' and, greater brother, but firmly, believe that each section of the great British family will and can. work out its future to the best advantage, whilst retaining its independence."

; Coming down to present-day conditions. Mr. Luke stated that it. seemed to him that Sydney was suffering a good deal more from the effects of the drought rather than the war, and commercial men in every dopartment were showing • anxiety as to the future on account of the ravages of . the drought. Touching the wheat (juestion, he had spoken with commercial men on the Bubjects of flour contracts nkde and likely to be made. ' , They were all of opinion that all contracts ought to be carried out, and political leaders were not. as .far as he oould gather, showing any disposition to prevent... the fulfilment of contracts; but there was * a wide unanimity of opinion against aby new . contracts being entered into with New Zealand in case there' was' a shortage of wheat,- which they all seemed to fear xuif^bb" be the case. .The city of Sydney had made tremendous strides ' since he was there last, some nine years ago. Miles of houses had been built in the suburbs on'land that when last seen had been under cultivation or overgrown, with scrub. In the city old buildings had been pulled down, and many imposing structures 1 approximating the large buildings of America had gone up .in their places, [giving an added sense of weight and dignity to the place. ' There appeared to be a large number of unemployed in Sydney, and he would not be at all surprised to hear, of acute distress there ' during- the coming winter. Mr. Luke, who travelled from Sydney to Melbourne by-. rail, describes the country passed 'through as one vast desert, rather than pastoral or agricultural land. . Very little of. it,showed a: vestige of green, and little or no cattle, or stock were to be seen. Here and there at wayside stations ■ were seen trains drawn up carrying sheep that were .little more-than'-skin- and ibones, and but for the value of their skins would be worth nothing. in' New Zealand. Comparing New Zealand with what he saw of' Australian farm lands, Mr. Luke said that one mile o.f our country would be worth ten of Australia.

Melbourne, lie thought, was less distressed from the drought and war than Sydney, but there, too, ■ they appeared to be unable to measure the' effect of the drought. There it was, that Mr. Luke learned of the death in Wellington of his brother, Mr. George Luke, which sad news robbed his visit to Melbourne of all farther interest. He paid a visit two or three of the colleges, and met several educationists and. professors. In Sydney he was shown every courtesy by the Ministers of the State Parliament, and attended' the House,,where a debate was in progress on the utility of the waters of the River Murray for irrigation purposes. . In Melbourne he was received with courtesy .by Mr. Andrew Fisher, the Commonwealth, Prime Minister, and a motor-car and offioial were placed at bis disposal for the purpose of viewing the city and suburbs of Melbourne.