IMPRESSIONS OF AUSTRALIA.

Shannon News, 29 December 1922, Page 3

IMPRESSIONS OF AUSTRALIA.

A NEW ZEALANDER’S OBSERVA- . TIONS. in conversation .. with a- News representative, Mr A. Seifert, merston, mentioned several points" of interest, that/bad c6me under his notice while iri Australia a few weeks ago. v Mr Seifert was impressed by the desire in northern New South Wales to secede and form a new State. One of 'the - chief • grievances was the centralisation of every State activity in Sydney, and the secession movement aimed at decentralisation as part of its policy. A striking illustration of the evils of the capital’s influence was seen in regard to railway development. Two main lines of

railway ran almost parallel north from Sydney, one following the coastal route and the other traversing the higher inland tablelands. On the coast, sugar, coffee, cocoa and tropical fruits and products were grown and dairying carried on. The ; uplands were excellent wheat country. A short line of 80 miles would connect the two systems and enable products to be exchanged .and the wheat ■ to be brought down to splendid harbours. 'The line had been authorised s since 1886, but never constructed, and the only railway connection between coast and tablelands was via Sydney, ■/ involving a railway journey of - a thousand miles in length. Sydney’s influence prevented the development of rival harbours and the decentralisation of administration.

A great deal of interest is being taken at present im eotton growing in northern New South Wales, especially in the Richmond River district. Millions of acres were suitable for cotton cultivation, and if it* .could be produced for commercial purposes to compete with the American article there was/i. great future before the industry. At present a substantial Government subsidy was being paid to encourage the cotton, growers.

Tasmania was going in for extensive development of water-power, and manufacturers were being attracted there by the - of getting the benefit of the power and the cool climate. ‘

Victoria also was receiving attention from people who were considering various manufacturing enterprises, arid this was the result of the comparatively low taxation in that State. Victoria levied income tax totalling 8d in the £l, while the Federal maximum, was 2/4 in, the £l, a total of 3/ in the £l, as compared with New Zealand’s total of 7/4 in the £l. Victoria was at the bottom of the scale, while Queensland was at the top. Mr Seifert mentioned that whereas Victoria in 1920 collected £915,000 in income tax, Queensland levied £2,023,316; that is, Queensland took twice the income tax from a population half the size of Victoria’s. .

The political campaign was in full swing when Mr Seifert was ;n Australia. v One of the . main issues, according to the papers, was Mr Hughes’. acceptance of a sum of £25,000 as a personal gift from persons whose names had not been disclosed. The fund was raised in token of appreciation of Mr Hughes’ Imperial services, but it was argued that no Minister should accept such a gift unless the names of the donors were made public, it being claimed that the Prime Minister might thereby be put under an obligatoin to some powerful interest in the State.