QUEENSLAND'S ATTRACTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 182, 23 July 1908, Page 2

QUEENSLAND'S ATTRACTIONS.

DIVERSE OPINIONS.

By Telegraph.-—Press Association. ■Wellington, Bast Night. Opinions of Queensland us a place for settlement li.v New Zealand fiinuers tlifler much, if the remarks made liy two prominent pastoralsits to a Post reporter to-day are any criterion. One gentleman admitted the drawliacks—the climate, the rabbits, the prickly pear and other pests. Still there 'were counter-balancing ad vantages in the superiority of the soil and the cheapness of the land. The Darling Downs were specially singled out for lavorable comment. "The rainfall was fair, and immense crops of lucerne could be raised, so that the introduction of dairying was contemplated in the near Farmers had learned much by uieudisastrous experience of drought, elsewhere, and were better prepared 10 face any drouglit to conic. Over-stock-ing was not the practice now. In fact, most places kept severely on the safe side. Asked what he considered the chief attraction to New Zealand farmers, the Post's informant declared it to be in the difference in the burden.s, imposed upon the hind in the respective countries. As compared with New Zealand, Queensland was very lightly rated and taxed. Indeed, tenures differed. One and the same estate might 'have a portion freehold and another lease with a purchasing clause; a third, a scrub lease: a fourth, whali was: known as the 18-section lease, and so on. The rabbit pest might be met in time by the'fencing of the ditl'crant/ runs.

The other side was heard from a gentleman who had gone to Queensland with high hopes and found them unrealised. He had seen many places but there was too much uncertainty about Hie climate, and the. prickly pear and the rabbits and the drouglit made him glad to get hack to New Zealand.