VISIT TO AUSTRALIA.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 20, 18 October 1907, Page 9

VISIT TO AUSTRALIA.

' ■ —4 —. IMPRESSIONS 1 OP MR. R. HEATON , RHODES, M.H.R. ■ Amongst the v pnssongcrs who returned to Now Zealand yesterday by the Wimmera.were Mr. and Mrs. Hcaton Rhodes, both greatly improved in health. Mr; Rhodes spent most of the day in and about Parliament, and received a most hearty welcome alike from political friend and foe—though it may bo doubted if Mr. Rhodes has any of the latter in Parliament. The member for Ellesmero will leave for > Christchnrch to-day, and it will depend upon the doctor's report whether or not he will come back for the romaindor of tho session. : Mr. Rhodes spoilt tho most of his time in Australia recuperating near Melbourne, so that lie has not much to say regarding politics and commerce. At tho present time, ho says, they are feeling the drought a good deal, and the crops are being stunted. In Sydnoy lie met the head of ono big company, which had just 7000' acres of land for six months at a rental of £6000. This was country in the western district that would carry two and a half sheep to the acre. ■ It was necessary to tako this land to save the stock. ; Mr. .Bent is talking of resuming 0110 millioij acres in tho western district at a.cost of six million pounds. He proposes to tako the land at tho'present valuation, even though lie does not take it till five or ten years hence. Sonio of this land Mr. Rhodes saw. It is in places suitablo for closo settlement, but in other places it is patchy. Mr. Rhodes spent a little time in Queensland, where tho talk was all about tho trend of 'population, in that district. Some Canterbury meu who had acquired property there were vory pleased with their purchase. People seemed to think that pastorally there was a great future before Queensland. Mr. Rhodes was favourably impressed with what he saw of tho Darling Downs. In regard to tho political and commercial outlook, Mr. Rhodes says there is undoubtedly great jealously between tho States. This jealousy he found more marked in Sydney than in Melbourne. Tho Labour question is more prominent in Australia thnn hero, as is. proved by the existence of the three-party systems in so many States.