Bushmen Earn £l2 A Day In Australia

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23269, 2 June 1950, Page 6

Bushmen Earn £l2 A Day In Australia

AUCKLAND, June 1 A sequence of wonderful years wonderful through adequate rainfall—has brought unprecedented prosperity to Australia, said Mr. W. J. Poison, Leader of the Legislative Council, when he arrived at Auckland yesterday by air. He has just completed a tour of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. , ‘‘Everyone has a great deal of money to spend and prices are high. The cost of living in Australia is undoubtedly higher than in New Zealand,” Mr. Poison said. "High wages are being earned, especially in the country. Shearers earn £SO a week and bushmen £l2 a day. Mr. Poison remarked that Australia can and does grow everything she wants, and because of this our balance of trade is prejudiced through inability to trade on a 50-50 basis. He said New Zealand softwoods were at present in great demand, but he noticed plantations in pine trees everywhere and said it looked as if Australia was seeking to become self-sufficient in timber. "I found a verv cordial feeling toward New Zealand from all Australians I met.” he said. “Thev are delighted with the groups of tourists who are visiting the country in considerable numbers. Australians are very keen to come to New Zealand, but are under the impression that it is a cold place. However, I find Auckland today much warmer than it has been in Sydney for the past week.”