NOT A DESERT.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 11327, 3 October 1930, Page 7

NOT A DESERT.

CENTRAL -AUSTRALIA.

BUT LITTLE FUTURE.

To an address to members of the Sydney Millions Club, Mr Donald Mnclcay, leader of the recent, aerial expedition to Central Australia, denied that Central Australia was a sandy deosrt, but admitted that tho difficulties of settlement there were almost, insuperable, says the “Sydney’Morning Herald.” AYhen rain came, he said, there was an exuberance of vegetation. Grass grew rapidly, and among it a wealth of wild flowers, that‘gave‘the landscape a beautiful appearanceBut in periods of drought, the', vegetation all disappeared' except the saltbush, spinifex nad mulgu. These were the standbys' of the'cattle farmer. At. the present time the-sett-lers there were passing‘through trying times. Some of the herds that numbered a few years ago from 5000 to 10,000, were now reduced from 300 to 500. But when'the wet seasons came, and vegetation was available, they would soon be built up again to normal proportions.-At. obe time the settlers got cattle Hand ; at sixpence per square mile/ but tha.t had bpen increased to■ 3s, why, hp had never been able to find out. His advice was that tho land should’: be given free to settlers for a period of 30 to 50 years, or condition that they carried out specific improvements in the interval and each year put down a number.of veils.

Dealing with the mineral possibilities of Central Australia, Mr Maclcny said these were distinctly promising, hut there was great difficulty in prospecting- THe ideal way was a combination, of aeroplane and camel transport. The aeroplane could be used for the exploration of probable routes for the camels over the country to be prospected, whilst the camels could carry the heavy tools and food. The difficulty with aeroplanes alone was the possibility of a forced landing in an 1 area where there would bo difficulty in getting sufficient Space for an adequate runway to take off again. With camels alone the difficulty was the slow progress—about three miles an l our. He realised that the prospectors had a hard time .before them in that'area... Air Mackay raid that the natives in Central ’Australia were favorable to visitors when they were treated properly. The main point was never fo let 'the native regard' Himself ’as superior to the whito man, 1 find nOver to allow him or his gins into tlie tent of the white men. Tho natives were very helpful to the expedition. They assisted them in every way and led them to water. At night the tools and food of the party were left unprotected alongside the firOa whore thing was ‘toilched.’ They could not the blacks wore camped, and not a havodone the same‘thing in or ar-

ound Sydney. ' fi. ' Answering a question, Mr Mackay said there was very little game to bo seen in Central Australia. They saw one or two kangaroos in t’he distance, and therfi wore 7 some mountain but they were a mere handful. There were plenty of goldfinches. hut the only other birds he saw'on tho trip were a crow,'a hawk and two wagtails. He was told that at one time there Were thousands of rabbits in the area, hut the recent drought had killed most of them off. They would come again when the food supply increased. . F*

‘riie climate’of the'area was pleasant and invigorating. T’he days were sometimes fairly warm, buo nights wcrO cool to co!d ; with occasional frosts. He believed that Central Australia could be made an ideal place for a holiday using Alice Springs as headquarters. It was only three days by aeroplane froth Sydney.