WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17985, 2 April 1930, Page 2

WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

NOVEL SETTLEMENT. “MOST PROSPEROUS STATE.” Western Australia is to-day the most prosperous of the Commonwealth States in the opinion of the Hon. W. J. Mann, who arrived at Wellington from Sydney by the Makura on his way to the Empire Press Conference to be held in London next June. Mr Mann is a member of tiie Legislative Council of Western Australia, an elective body. He will represent about GSO provincial newspapers at the conference. With a population about half as large as thal of the North Island of New Zealand Western Australia covers almost one-third of the “island continent.” "1 consider the West is easily Ihe most progressive State in the Commonwealth.” Mr Mann said. "This is •borne out by Ihe fact that in the last 20 years it has progressed more than twice as fast as any other State. Twenty years ago practically every loaf of bread eaten in the West was made from imported flour. Last year we produced 10,000,000 bushels of wheat, or more than double the total output of South Australia and Victoria, two old wheat-growing districts. “We exported about £7,000,000 worth of wheat and about £4,000,000 worth of w’ool last year, and I suppose that with gold, timber, pearishell, fruit and other -products onr exports will total about, £18,000,000. The whole of the eastern part of Australia experiences periods of drought, but the south and south-western areas now being developed have never known a drought.

Group Settlement Successful. “Ever since the discovery of gold in the West in the early 'nineties it has been a happy hunting ground for Eastern firms 'because we had to import practically everything. We imported dairy products lor a number of years, the' cost often about £1,000,000 a year. However, we have set to work to do away with this importation. Tlie desired end is being attained, an important factor being the novel scheme of group settlement instituted by Sir James Mitchell and. criticised as the most madcap piece of work ever undertaken. The scheme is now proving successful, although it is oply seven years old, and the production of bulter will shortly he sufficient to supply the whole needs of the State and to leave a margin for export.” Western Australia was keenly interested in the group settlement scheme. It was anticipated that the Government would lose £5,000,000 for a start, but in view of the tremendous benefit and wealth which would ultimately accrue, the figure was not regarded very seriously. A total of 110,000,000 was lost in launching the vheat-growing scheme, hut wheat iroduction was now valued at between 110,000,000 and £15,000,000 a year, jnder the settlement scheme immi--srants and their families were brought Tom England and given land to devc-

Jop. Groups of 20 were employed in clearing. the land and the Government erected four-roomed houses for the families. Although the.land was free, the settlers had to pay for improvements. In spite of the fact that the Government did not insist upon the men having farming experience, the scheme had gone ahead until to-day it appeared that complete success was in sight. Revival of Gold Mining. "In addition to the prospects of primary production in the West, gold mining, which has been languishing for 'a number of years, gives promise of taking on a new lease of life,” Mr Mann added. “The Government is opening a mine about 500 miles north of Perth, and £250,000 is being spent on plans and preparatory work. A series of bores has been put down and the worth of the scheme has been proved. It will be the most scientifically worked mine that Australia lias seen, it is expected that when operations are commenced over 5000 tons of material a day will be handled.”