THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 1907. THE NORTHERN TERRITORY

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8411, 27 April 1907, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 1907. THE NORTHERN TERRITORY

A cable message published a few days ago stated that Sir Joseph Symon, who is seniot Senator for South Australia in the Commonwealth Parliament, urged, in an interview the necessity of peopling the Northern Territory, otherwise the chance of Australia retaining it was small. It has been-recognised for some years past that an increase of population is the greatest need of the Northern Territory. The Government Resident, Mr Charles E. Herbert, in his annual report for 1905, stated that the adult European male population had been about stationary for the past fourteen years. The European adult female population was, however, showing a steady increase in number, which seemed to be a cheering sign, since it pointed to a more settled and permanent population, as opposed to a floating one. A like matter for congratulation was the increase in the number of European children. During the last six years the total European population had been slowly but perceptibly gaining ground, the increase for that period being 120. On the other hand, for the same period, the

Asiatic population had been diminish- ! ing, and with much greater rapidity, the loss being 1,048. The decrease in the export of staples had not been nearly commensurate with the decrease in total population. It was admitted, however, that settlement was going down hill seriously as far as its finances were concerned, "and this must continue," the Government Resident asserted, "as long as the causation exists —the ever-increasing liability, at compound interest, on the construction of an incomplete railway, with which no one can expect a mere handful of 3,374 people to cope." The Government Resident made a strong appeal for State assist- ' ance to European immigrants. It should not be difficult to induce settlers to the country if the descriptions of the Northern Territory given by some South Australian legislators can be substantiated. The Premier, the Hon. J. G. Jenkins, stated in a speech some years ago that in his opinion—and he had a pretty good knowledge of the pastoral country of America —the best and most extensive cattle country in the world was to be found in the Territory. Gold, tin, wolfram, copper, and other metals have been discovered, cotton, jute, rubber, tobacco, and other products have been cultivated with success, and the climate is said to be much more bearable than has been i reported.