ADVANCE AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2813, 12 February 1908, Page 12

ADVANCE AUSTRALIA.

In answer to questions on matters Australian, Sir John Madden touched on the present policy of sub-dividing big estates, the Government lending money at 3£ per cent, for 30 years. It was a success. " Why," said Sir John, "we have more people than land available." The Government was going slowly and cautiously, though the Radical party was, for obvious reason, trying to force its hand. This last had been a bad year for people justsettled on the land, but payments had been coming in well. As to irrigation, the largest system in the world' was to ho constructed at Rushworth,. on the Goulburr. A mountain gorge was to be stopped by a dam twice as large as that at Assouan on the Nile, and bigger tjian all other dam* in Australia put together. The powr / thus controlled would supply every - city i i Victoria with light and motive power. Th • main item of expense would be that : whole town would have to be submerge. , so this must first, be bought out ; the maining cost would bo by comparison snip The Murray waters were also to be utili-? ' for irrigation purposes in New South WaL Victoria, and South Australia, it bam stipulated that the river be left navigable for South Australia's benefit. Victoria-, progress had this year been very great, and this on the top of a succession of " fat " years since 1903. The surplus would Le over a million.