AUSTRALIA'S PROGRESS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 309, 24 May 1911, Page 8

AUSTRALIA'S PROGRESS

DAIRYING INDUSTRY CRITICISED. London, May 14. The report of the Scottish Commission which recently toured Australia has just been issued, and it should do a great deal towards pushing forward emigration to the Commonwealth. It contains exact practical information of the most valuable nature, information such as is much needed by intending settlers. There is, in its pages, a careful, plain, ami unvarnished but favorable report on agricultural conditions in Australia. The few disadvantages are detailed, but these make the favorable pArts stand out even more conspicuously. Altogether this part of the report should be of distinct and solid value. Ip criticising the dairying industry it says:— "Australia lacks workmen, not" work. There are few parts of .the world where nature does so inucH to ,help;lorward the production of milk. Buf'milkcrs are scarce and not worth having. The dairy stock is inferior, the farmers' are inferior and inexperienced, and the 'scientific' dairying treatment of cows would give a Scottish farmer 'fits.'" The report strongly advocates the compulsory grading of cream. Proceeding, it says:—"The most sorrowful sight in Australia is that of the young children slaving at the dairy farms. Their education is neglected. The most heroic figure in the country is not the backwoodsman, but the enduring wife. "Official books on Australia do not tell the whole truth. The view they give often encourages city men from this country to take up farm work'in Australia.

"The people most wanted there and most likely to make good settlers arc married couples with children, and it is a distinct misfortune for the Commonwealth that such people arc warned that there is little prospect of employment for them there. This is a serious evil calling for remedy by a Commonwealth commission." The Scottish Commissioners state that they found nobody in Australia with a serious complaint, but again deplore Australia's dependence on single men as being most undesirable for the future life of the country. The report is securing wide publication.