A BACKGROUND TO THE NEWS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 284, 28 August 1935, Page 7

A BACKGROUND TO THE NEWS

The Northern Territory

The Minister for the Interior in the Australian Government (Mr. T. Paterson) states he can see no prospect yet of increasing the pastoral industry of the Northern Territory or for proceeding with the Government’s plan of chartered companies.. It has been established that a variety of agricultural products can be grown in the Northern Territory. At present the only commercial crop is the peanut, grown by 60 farmers. Experts have claimed that cotton, upland rice, tobacco, and possibly maize, can be grown. It has been estimated that if all the cattle stations in the Northern Territory were prosperous and fully stocked, the direct increase in the white population would l>e only about 1000. Attempts to grow sugar have failed. Sisal hemp will grow admirably, but costa of production are considered too high. Indeed, the greatest part of the problem of developing the Northern Territory resides in costs of production. They are much higher in Australia than in other countries that would be in competition with the Australian product. Chartered Companies.

It is considered that the financial resources of Australia are inadequate for the task of coping with the development of the Northern Territory. It is suggested that British capital could be employed for the purpose of establishing the necessary settlement The companies would be responsible for obtaining the settlers by giving them sufficient inducement to occupy and develop the country, say, exemption from rent, rates, and ordinary taxes, but in lieu thereof a tax on what was produced. If the settlers produced nothing there would be no tax. It is considered that there must be complete freedom from restrictive legislation for the companies, as it would be essential to buy materials in the world’s cheapest markets. It is estimated that the scheme would require a (backing of £50,000,000. German Colonies.

It is stated that Germany's need for colonies is rapidly becoming a demand for them. Article 118 of the Treaty of Versailles says that: “In territory outside her European frontiers, Germany renounces all rights, titles, and privileges whatever in, or over, territory which belonged to her or to her allies, and all rights, titles, and privileges, whatever their origin, which she held" to the Allies. All property in these territories, movable or immovable, belonging to the German Empire, was also forfeited to the Allies. Germany also renounced all interests, treaties and privileges she had in China, Siam, Liberia, Morocco, Egypt, Turkey, and Bulgaria. She renounced Shantung in favour of Japan. Britain and Italy.

Signor Mussolini has referred, to the fact that Italy has always stood, by the British Empire, not only in the Great War but at other times when the world was aligned, against her. The last phrase no doubt refers to the time of the Boer War when the continental nations, France aid Germany particularly, were hoping for Britain’s downfall. Opinion in Italy was divided. The Vatican and clericals were hostile to England. The Italian Liberals, Radicals, and Socialists were also against Britain. The Italian Conservatives and Moderates were, on the contrary, mainly pro-British, as were a handful of old Garibaldians. The hostility of the Vatican toward Britain caused the Italian Government to accentuate the friendliness of its attitude. Its organs claimed that Britain and Italy stood alone as the defenders of liberty in Europe. Lord Rosebery in “The Times” placed on record “the open friendliness” displayed by the Italian Government to Great Britain. Manchukuo and Gran Chaco. Reference has been made by Signor Mussolini to the failure of the League of Nations to prevent the Japanese occupation of Manchukuo, or the Gran Chaco war between Paraguay and Bolivia. Japan commenced what she called “defensive" operations against the Chinese in Manchuria on September 18, 1931. The cause was the destruction of portions of the Japanese railway line near Mukden by bandits. China appealed to the League of Nations, which sent a commission, headed by Lord Lytton, to investigate. The commission held Japan wholly responsible for setting up Manchukuo and recommended an autonomous government subject to Chinese sovereignty, to be established by direct negotiations between China and Japan. Japan refused to give up her policy, and withdrew from the League. From 1928 to May of this year Paraguay and Bolivia waged war over a jungle-clad, swampy region, as large as New Zealand, and known as the Gran Chaco. Both were members of the League. Britain in India.

“The Italian Administration can do for Abyssinia what the British have done for India,” says Signor Mussolini. The British went to India for economic advantage and extended their conquests first for the direct purpose of consolidating and expanding their economic opportunities, and later for that of maintaining law and order. British and not Indian interests were responsible for the establishment of British rule, and still dictate its maintenance. Indian trade is of vital importance to British industry; British investors have huge masses of capital invested in Indian bonds and enter-

prises; the loss of India would be a severe blow to the British economy as well as to British Imperial prestige. But British administration has developed Indian foreign trade, equipped the country with a railway system, done something for irrigation and the prevention of sheer starvation, and something, too, for education based upon Western models. If Britain were to leave, the country would break up Into small entities or go over to Communism. East Anglia.

It is reported that East Anglia is being overrun with rabbits. Norfolk and Suffolk, the latter the easternmost county of England, together form East Anglia, and, usually with the addition of Essex, are known as the Eastern Counties. East Anglia is the most Teutonic district of England, and was famous in early history as the country of Boadicea. Norfolk is more varied in scenery than Suffolk, but both counties are noted for their landscapes. Agriculture is the chief industry in both, but the herring fishing of Yarmouth and Lowestoft, the poultry farms of Norfolk, and the manufacture of agricultural machinery in Suffolk are important industries. In Suffolk Is Newmarket, the headquarters of racing in England.