SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23. 1911.

Grey River Argus, 23 September 1911, Page 4

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 . 1911.

Qui'lT. '-ecmtly tho Commonwealth .Government sent a scientific expedi■tiofl. to' the Northern Tenritary .of Australia with the general object of rjeporting upon: the soil, the climate 'and the <of that portion of ;the island continent. Th-e expeditiion

consisted of scientific gientlemen of proved capacity in the sevenral ibranche;s of natural scienc-e -ne.cessary in such an exploratory expedition.- The report has afforded the most irelia^ able information regarding the inducements held out 'by that vast terriitoTv of vaiied resounrces as a home for people of thi3 European race. The main object of the expedition may therefore be said to be either to confirm or dispel the priejudioe.s that have been felt against tropical or semi-tropical 'regions providing a suitable liomQ for white men to settle, in and propagate their species.. Al-tho-ugih cxptrienice has. .shown tnat whilio men can adapt themselves to all climates where 'human beings of any kind can manage to live and thrive, the- public will feel more confident when scientific" men. aftej personal investigation, report ■ that the nonthern . portion of Australia can safely be recommended as a suitable and even attractive field for European immigration. Thq report states that the health of the European settlers found there was "remarkably good," while the families of the second generation showed no sigiis of physical deterioration. This is a great deal more than can be .said of the; climate in India., wlvare difficulty is sometimes encountered in rearing robust children of European parents. The expedition also found that residents of the country for forty yjears compared favourably with those living elsewhere in- physical vigoi' and appearance. . This would seem t o be ■ evidence enough to dispel the ancient prejudices against Northern Australia being regarded as a suitable home for. the white race. While it is admitted that malaria • .exists in some of the mining districts,, it seems not to be due so much to climatic reasons as to remediable causes. One can easily imagine how sickness ! might arise dn the ." average mining camp, where little re^aijd would be given to maintaining proper isanitary conditions. . But such drawbacks are of course easily remedied. The. other observations contained in the report do not call for any comment at pre- ; sent. The most interesting feature of the experiences of the expedition is that, broadly speaking-, the northern part of Australia forms a vast territory in which people of the European race i.an lead a healthy existence and carry out all the proper functions of life with comfort to themselves a; nd benefit to tho -ace to which they belong. This verdict will havfi the .effect 'of drawing . the attention of those who are looking far homes in new lands to this new field for immigration purposes. As those at the head of tha" Commonwealth's affairs took a most judicious step in. sending an ■expedition to the Northern Territory, it now : behoves them to follow that 'by doing something to attract people to the vast unoccupied wastes of that portion of Australia. If there still remain any doubts as to the general healthiness of. the territory for Europeans, these ought 'to be dispelled by the fact that the canefields of Bundaberg. Mackay, and other pans where tho climate is semi-tropical arc succesfully cultivated by white labour at 30s a week and "keep" for eight hours a day. Though the -sugar-growers 'held out as long as they could that only Kan-^ ukas Could work and endure th-p heat, [t is evident that a white man can work where any other man can. This is the. all-impoiitant iact about the Northern Territory. Where white nen can work and thrive, and good beef and mutton can be liaised; where all the foodstuffs and fruits i.nd vegetables that are regarded as part of man's existence flourish luxuriantly—what bctteii home could man desire? If the Commonwealth Government does its duty <vn- -respect bo the. Northern Territory 'by. encoura,ging immigration to it, a defensive barrier wiU<soon be raised ' that would dispel any fear of an invasion of the dreaded "yellow peril." Tb.at is the only real defence to protect Australia from being. invaded by a horde of yellow or brown men from the north. Such a scheme should meet with tho approval of even th-e Labour' Party, which is usually :so incontinently jealous ■ of • immigration schemes of any , kind. "Because to biving people to the Northern Terri-tory.-would, be like- taking -them to a new;. world. '-altogether, so great is < the distance that .separates Northern -and -Southern Australia. The two great questions that now confront the Commonwealth are the populating of the beautiful lands of the north part of the island— which- is' rich in all the elements of industrddl prosperity— and icoinnocting the 1 cxtremi'tlies of the. island continent 'by . rail— from south to north and, from .east to west. Long before such a scheme can ■be completed we hope to see Australia- iriyalling Canada as an attractive field: for the immigration. o\ people of the British race.. .

The me;ii of the Sunshine Harvester works ane out on strike again. It is only a very short time >sinca' ■ they went out on strike' 'b'qeausa 'th-ey^re-fused to work along-side of nonunionists. After the strikens had suffered a good deal of ;' hardship, ' ami ■strike funds were ''getting exhausted, the strike was declared off, and was resumed on the old conditions. Once -more, it appears, according to an Australian' cable, the men have again refused to . wonk with '•nonunionists, and chased and roughly handled some of them in the streets, as was florae frequently in the .fanner strike. This second strike, coming so soon, after: the recent abortive one seems somewhat unaccountable. It augurs a bad state of affairs if peaceful non-unipnists are to ibe chased and assaulted in the 'streets for no reason except that they object to become unionists. So lonig as people obey- the laws, of the country they are entitled, to- be protected while engaged in 'their lawful business.. It is surely hard enough on them to h$ so handicapped that the Government; of the Federation will not givo a nonunionist wdr-k so lonsf as a Unionist' is available., But :to run men -down. '■• l ' " " '..... '..,

in tine streets and beat. them as if they were, wild and dangerous ani«nalsj simply because they are not unionists, is making 1 trades union law ovenride the law of the country, and is. a state of affairs that should not ba tolerated. It js not creditable to any g-overnment that would allow such a state of things to pneyail. This attempt to crush and fares, men to become unionists against their will is simply mob rule and the very worst form of tyranny, and an awful reproach to the Government of the Commonwealth that does not use its power to stop it. If this question of -preference to unionists is not dealt with and protection! (afforded to men who object, for reasons of their own, to become unionists, there are labour troubles in stor>3 for Australia worse than anything that lias yet been seen. It is. quite a new development under the British flag -that men; 'should be hunted down like mad 1 dogs- because they insist on standing up for them freedom of action. There was never anj'thing much worse .in the history of religious persecution than the^ way that unionists are treating non-unionists, at, every opportunity. If the Australian authorities wink' the other eye at such cruel doings something very unpleasant will surely happen. Labour Governments are on their tnial, and if they are going to make fish of one and flesh of others, instead of affording protection to all who obey the laws >of the country, they will fail in their obvious, duty, and soon meet with that condemnation that their conduct will richly deserve.

Th-e place to secure your new supply of crockery is Harley' s.

At the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr W- R* Keittle, Jusfrr". of the Peaces, a first offender was ccnvicted and disohai-ged for drunkenness. •."""

The.ro full value and satisfaction in a 10s 6d cycling carj°, from WADE and Co.

The 'INo' Town Dredg"e obtarineid 3o ounces of giald for last week's work. Beale pianos catn be purchased at Harley' s, Richmond Quay.

For the man who wants T o kq>':p dn r — he needs a vycling cape from WADE'S.

The Denniston Miners' Unioin on a ballot was in favour of running a Labour candidate for the Buller Seat the votraig being.jf.es 432 Noes 32. ■••

A large variety of palm bowls a.re on view at Harley.'s -suitable fo3 wedding- and Christmas presents.

Duncan Cunningham, aged 101 years was accused at -the Stratford (England) Police Oour.t with being intoxicated. The Magistrate discharged him.

Tjhe largest aoal train of coal that has -left the State Mine arrived . in town iyes,ti*rday aft|er.noon. ( It» consisted of seventy-,three trucks and a guard's vain. The train' was under the control of Driver Dunford and Guard Bowman.

Hovq you seen out rango of-imcai'i. sample sum me? shirts — just opened? All we ask you to do is to come and examine out 3s 6cl summer wash shirts — and fancy stripo you want. Thq newest neckwear for men also showing.— W. McKAY and Son, leading- Drapers. ■Gneymouth. — Advt.

A Grand Matinee will bs* held this afternoon by the West Coast Picture Coy. A great treat is in store fo:; the children. Look out for the new films, musical programme and illustrated song tq-moOTow (Sunday) night. ' - -

On Sunday, night at-? o'clock Mr. M. Victor-, Clairvoyant, will deliver his farewell address in the Druid's Hall " Spiritual Science, its Mission to Humanity," to be followed by clairvoyant readings from flowers. This will be the last addness by Mr. Victor until November,, due notice being given in this issue.

The Presbyterian services to-mor-row will be as follows: — St. John's Greymouth 11 a:;m. and 7 p.m., 'Rev. R. Stewart, Runang-a. 11 a.m., and 7 p.m., M?. W. T. Cookson, Brunner, 7 v.m., Mr D. Morgan, Blackball, 11 am.y and 7 n.rri.', Mr W. Milne. .*■■■'

Tho Convent School concert ' last evening was a great success, and the kindness of Messrs Harley and Co. in lending" thei?. celebrated Beal<j Pianos wag much appreciated. The pianos are -recognised as the best /in the Dominion-, and certainly th.o Convent pupils appreciate them, judging by the splendid results achieved.

"Judas," \ "liar,'<> "swindler," "skunk," - "ra£-bag," "scrapheap," " scoundrel," "tomtit," Hiraitor," "viper," r "lyre-birdV' "'assassin,". etc, etc. The above are a few of the erarbhes used -by some of file; ultra, .refined members, of; 'the Opposition durine. the debate ur'th" /-ilect'on cif Mr Willis as Speaker of the N.S.W. Legislatu'i-C: .What about "larra-kin?" " \. / : ; ; ;

. Say tho Anti-Militarcst .:— DuirirvgOctoiber next, a ibiiig Anti-Militarist conference will be heid in the capital city. Delegates are coming irani. . all pans, and, a great .demonstration wi'jU take place> Meetings and -mass meetings will be held, plans' for work will be arranged, and .the best methods wild be adopted. .A deputatrion .'■'. will wait upon -the Government 'asking for .the ; repeal otf 'the clauses, and failing this, an election campaign will s/-art in very earnest. The fight will .be short and sharp.

" The Anti Militarist," a journal of protest and true patriotism, as it calls itself, is the latest journalistic venture of the times, and of w-hich the first .number . lias .. reached us. Its character and abject may ib'e imagined from the fallowing declarations oh its I ' first page:— Any government that e.nacts and enforces a law which, makes criminals of respectable lads who ihav,e coimmjitted no crime, has forfeited . the confidence •of the people it respresahts, and should be removed from office. It 1 is a terrible thing tof accuse a 'government of making-' criminails' because our youth arc asked to undergo in for dhlh

'Wheile does th|e' "true '"pa^r.'ioiai.sm come in?" But as it is a free country, there can be no objection to anti-mily-■tanists ! publishing' their views in respect to' the defence bfj-he country. Society,, for its .gins',, has to put up with c'-anks »of many ikivhcK and an nn.ti-miliitiari.st organ is the latest clevol opment of a saci alii sic m ture . It is printed in ChCh." " ' ■■'•' -

When Mr Massey is ready to speak | we may be sure that a principal point of attack will bfl one which ho really required no time to consider- The Budget leaves the principal issue of tho land questiio;n just where it was, and ithe Opposition is fully .entitled to maike all the capital that n't can out of .the mission. We are thankful, that Sir Joseph Ward does not promise every Crown tenant the. freehold on 'such terms as the Farmers' Union and >tihe Opposition ca-n approve, or indeed on any terms, but we regret (that his defence of the public interests 'is enfeebled by the absence of any positive faith or any conr.tnuctive policy. —^Evening Post.

At a speoial meeting of the Grey Licenced Victuallers' Association held in ■ the Albion 'Hotel o;n Thursday Mr R. Russsll was appointed President amd Mr J. P. Bierne Vice-Pre-sid^nt. Messrs Viial and' R. Dunphy \\i^nA ■ap'paibiited th ! e ctomTni-.t '•'-° f. Messrs R. Russell. J. Johnston, M. Fitzgerald and J. P. Bierne were appointed a committee to visit Hokitiika, with a -view of consulting the members of the trade there ' ots -to 4 h<* ndvisabiiliity of fc.rmriin.ft' a Westland Association.

It is a happy augury that in their firs-ii frienay OriposL^iton critics ' describe the Finanoial Statement delivered by Sir Joseph Ward recently as ''an election Budget" calculated to

"dish Mr Massey." Our friends would, of oouxse, h& imuch better pleased' with a less attractiiv c policy than the Government has presented, but we cannot b,o allowed to obstruct fhr pathw r ay of progress. The important proposals contained in the Budget for limprovinig the social conditions ■of the people arc. in -keeping wi'h the -f-radu'tioins of the part}' Sir Joseph Ward leads. They arc what n community ■esseTv'v.al'V Libnrnl is entitled to expect. Nobody not totally ob i:-v:-ru> to its record would seriously look *-o Mr Masspv's side in politics for nnvthi.ne- in th^ nature of constructive social reform. New Zealand Times.