THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 1913. THE NORTHERN TERRITORY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 29 March 1913, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 1913. THE NORTHERN TERRITORY.

In a- recent issue of this paper, reference \voi.s made to what appeared to be a 'distinct iperil to Australia, in the vast areas of land in the jVortliern Territory being allowed to remain unoccupied. The subject is dealt with in tile canrrent issue of "Life" by Mr T. Tv. Dow, one of the oldest and most reliable journalists in Australia. After referring to the climatic and other conditions that obtain in the north, Mr Dow urges that the immediate problem -itihlat presents itself for solution is that of population. He isays:— "The problem is how to secure sufficient population with adequate rapidity to prevent such a vast territory, with so many rich resources under-a climate highly favourable for their de. velopment. from passing out of our control. The Chinese and the Japanese know the special value of the numerous pirakotis for the growing of -which, the country is suitable, and they know much better than the oeonle. of Australia hiow productive tlm 'coil and climate are oT these commodities, for they have, throughout a trenbeen carrying out practice' ovneiriinentis. and re-porting result* Mipir home Governments, in re-sard to •>ll the cultures which the Commonwealth experimental farms are onl* beginning to test. The reports o f Eastern experts upon Australian rice for instance, are entirely satisfactory. With a T>opulatrion of about 4000. on an area four and a half times as large as Britain, we are beginning to set about developing one or two Britains suitable for rice, cotton, rubber, cocoamits, tobacco, sugar, and a long list of products even less familiar to Australian agrieulaurists; one or two Britains suitable for the mixed farming that Australians understand-; and one or two Britains suitable for the pastoral occupation that Australians 'enow more about than anvone else. How aro we going to do it? Certainly thfi climate, is no bar to the ooenrpation. of the Territory by ■wluto men ; but can we offer him .sufficient Inducement? Tf we can. are we doing .so? Or is our policy likely to pwpul-

ate the country quickly enough to avert tho nation;v danger of having •so vast, aii'i rich an uoa unoccupied, with an open -lour so near to hundreds, of million* of needy men J n questions of ordinary polities, each party believes it is riuht, hut it does not consider '.-hat bnal c"ri. l < , r. | i"necis will follow tho cr:!';-"'i»ijr o;,+ of the policy of its opponents. But it is different in this case. and. because thero is a difference, the subject ought to he dealt with entirely apart from party considerations. If we are not carrying out a policy that will quickly secure .sufficient population for the Northern Territory, we cannot consent to rub along and express regrets. The consequences of not having the right policy are too liVely tr> be fn+nl." "Mr Dow expresses the onininn tha.t, if Australian* b" fpi-",;] to proceed to the Northern Territory and develop its resources, indiicemer'* should be offered to "Europe*- v s frn.ni other countries to do ro. He has something to say concerning the .mineral resources of the unoccupied north. "The Territory," lie ,says, "in spite of its emptiness iand lack of means of internal communication, has produced about £2,000,000 worth of the precious metals, and many wellprospected mines, with the gold, cooper, a.nd silver in sight, only await railways for their development. It mav lie hoped that from these mines, and others to lie discovered, a call will arise that shall d'\aw men in crowds from the ends of tho earth."