HENRY GEORGE ON AUSTRALIA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2183, 2 April 1891, Page 4

HENRY GEORGE ON AUSTRALIA.

Mr Henry George, in giving his impressions of Australia to his countrymen, describes New Zealand as “ a long and narrow Switzerland,” with all the characteristics that promise a vigorous race of men. He refers to the stalwart Maoris as men whose abilities and valour won the respect of conquerors always disposed to look contemptuously on skins a shade darker than their own. Sir George Grey is singled out for special admiration, as “ the most heroic of antipodean figures.” Australia he thinks, contains enough good land to support an enormous population, besides being the best wool country in the world. In sensing Australia England has secured the dominancy of the southern ocean,! and do|ie much towards; making her language the world-tongue of the future, t he Australian people he considers, are developing a type more American than British. The new country, the fresher, frejer life, the better diffusion of wealth, are telling in the same way on the offshoot that has taken root in Australia, as on the offshoot that took root in America. He sees in the native-borp population evidences of the same inventiveness, the same self-reliance and push, the same independence, the same quickness of thought and movement, th§ same self-satisfaction and spreadeagleativeness as are supposed to be characteristic of Americans. He regards their loyalty as only skindeep, and doubts even if the colpniea will alb renew their contributions towards Imperial naval defence. He believes the Australians would be quick to respond ,to any proposition from America in the nature of reciprocity ; in fact, the States could virtually annex Australia, as they could virtually annex Canada and Great Britain by the simple process of abolishing their tariff and raising their revenues by moans not in themselves corruptive and impoverishing.