INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 55, 9 December 1871, Page 3

INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.

The following is an abridgment of an instructive leading article from the Sydney Monthly Herald , giving a resume of the report of the Royal Commission on Industry of Victoria, appointed by Mr Duffy’s Government: —At the early part of this year a Royal Commission was appointed in Victoria to consider and report whether it may be practicable to introduce into to tho colony, branches of industry which arc known to be common and profitable among the farming population of Continental Europe ; to specify which of such industries are most suitable to the soil, climate, and circumstances ; to report on the best means of promoting their introduction into Victoria, and how far the labour of persons at the disposal of the State, may be advantageously used for that purpose ; and to further consider and report on the best means of promoting the culture, extension, and preservation of State forests in Victoria, and the introduction of such foreign trees as may be suitable to the climate and useful for industrial purposes. We are glad to say that the labours of this Commission arc likely to be productive of very important and satisfactory results. It stands to reason that such should he the effect. Wherever a Government has undertaken in a rational manner to assist the people in their operations to develope the resources of the country, they have invariably succeeding in stimulating production remarkably. In Belgium, in several of the German States, in France, in America, we have examples of what Governments may- do when their motions are wisely directed, and these latter words we use in the remembrance that they may, by undue and foolish interference with industry, do far greater harm than they can do good. In America we perceive the Government at work to bring the land within the grasp of the induslromqand, further, to acquaint every man who undertakes to cultivate it with the principles of husbandry. There are experimental gardens and farms and arboreta.- conducted at the public expense, for the purpose of teaching those who take to farming and horticulture what may be done, ami how done ; and besides this, there are agricultural colleges and schools, altogether or partially supported from tiie public Treasury. The Government is careful, through its Agricultural Department, to procure and distribute seeds of all sorts from other countries, accompanied with the necessary information. This careful attention to those who have been entrusted with the most valuable property of the State, in order to ensure a good use being made of it, has been productive of excellent effects. In no country have such astonishing advances been made in cultivation. The principles of the old world have been applied with clear sighted intelligence aup iudomitable perseverance to the new, and that vast continent teams consequently

with the wealth of harvests, llad things been left to take their natural course, and the conception prevailed that Government had nbihing to do with teaching the principles iff husbandry, though it might have to do with the construction of a land law, America would probably have had to wait another century before attaining its present degree of development. The intention in Victoria is to establish various industries connected with the cultivation of the soil, which have for centuries been a copious source of national wealth to countries having a like climate, and undoubtedly these attempts, if wisely undertaken and determinedly maintained, will succeed. For instance, if such encouragement as is contemplated be provided, there can be no doubt that the cultivation of the olive, the drying and preservation of fruits, the growing and dressing of ilax and some other fibre plants, the cultivation of the poppy for oil and opium, of plants producing silk, medicinal and dye plants ; of hops, tea, cork, and some other things, might all be prosecuted with great advantage. For example, if the Government carry out tho suggestions of the Commissioners with respect to the cultivation of the olive, the, production of oil in a short time would ho prodigious, and there is no reason why they should not. It is suggested that prison labor might be resorted to to work the oil mills, and that mills should be erected in the several local gaols. Tho Commissioners also recommend a careful attention to tlax, for which a line market is open. The Commissioners impress upon the Government the desirability of establishing near the railways large nurseries of olive, mulberry, walnut, ehesnut, almond, filbert, and other trees bearing products of commercial value, so that a multitude of useful trees might be seen and tested throughout the country under different circumstances as regards soil and climate. It is also suggested that the trustees of recreation grounds and public reserves throughout the colony should be recommended to raise plantations of useful trees thereon ; that a portion of the South Park, near Melbourne, should be set apart for test culture, and that inexpensive test gardens should be formed in different typical districts in the colony, and placed under tho direction of the Government Botanist. And further, the Government is advised to give tho people book knowledge as well as seeds and cuttings—to distribute throughout the land popular tracts on practical subjects for consideration when the day’s labors arc over.

In the next place, the Commissioners take up and enforce the recommendations of Dr Mueller’s Memorial on Forestry. They deprecate the waste of timber at present going on in cutting and felling under license ; they recommended tho making of reserves for tree culture, and that local forest hoards should be created ; —to which, it appears, the G overnment of Victoria has already made sonic advance. Such arc the main points of the report presented by the lloyal Commission to his Excellency Viscount Canterbury. It may bn assumed that the Government did not ask for the advice without being prepared to act upon it, at least to a certain extent. We may, therefore, expect to perceive the evidence of considerable progress in tlio direction indicated within the next ten years. 'Pen years has suffered to raise tho returns from the cotton crop in Queensland from nil to £1,GG5,000.