A FRENCHMAN'S VIEW OF AUSTRALIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 7563, 30 May 1885, Page 3

A FRENCHMAN'S VIEW OF AUSTRALIA.

(Prom the Argus.) Baron Michel, who visited these Colonies last year in fulfilment of a special mission entrusted to him by the French Government, has been delivering a lecture, entitled “Australia as it is,”before the Society for Colonial and Maritime Studies, of which he is a zealous and distinguished member, in Paris. Those who had the pleasure of making the Baron’s acquaintance in Melbourne, found him to be a true Frenchman in vivacity of intellect, charm of manner, and love of country; but the latter did not prevent him from discerning and appreciating certain characteristics of the British (people, and of Anglo-Aus-tralian institutions, which he regarded as admirable in themselves and worthy of transplantation in Latin soil. Our systems of self-government and • education, our preference for individual over State initiation in many enterprises which are elsewhere left to the Government, our selfreliance and our respect for the law, elicited his warm eulogiums, the sincerity of which is proved by the repetition of many of them in his lecture, of which a copy lies before us, published in pamphlet form just before the departure of the last' Messageries steamer. The first half a dozen pages are occupied by a clear, accurate, and succinct account of the history, geography, economic resources, and population of the Australasian Colonies, in the course of which he calls the special attention of his countrymen to the fact that this continent is 15 times the size of France, and that its population is increasing at the rate of upwards of two per cent per annum—a fact which is markedly in contrast with the stationary condition of the French population. Passing on to speak of our industries, the baron says:— “ I have been struck by the future which awaits Australia in a vinicolepointof view. Whenever it shall call to its • aid veritable viticulturists—people who, like the /vignerons of Burgundy and Bordelais, know by intuition, as it were, the delicate and difficult work of the preparation of wine—in that day Australia will possess a new source of wealth. What is wanting over there is men whose knowledge of the cultivation of the vine and the preparation of wine is the result of an accumulated experience dating back to an epoch which is already remote. I should be very pleased if my words should reach the ears of our brave French peasants, of those active, intelligent, honest, and pre-eminently sober sons of toil, who are contending with the scourge which is ravaging their vineyards; for I can assure them that, with the possession of a modest capital—and they should never emigrate without that—they would not be long in making a fortune.”

After indulging in a little pleasantry at the expense of those who believe this to be a land of savages, the baron proceeds to remind his hearers that Australia possesses 10,000 kilometres of railway and 150,000 kilometres of telegraph lines, besides being in communication by cable with Europe, so that the telegraphic news of the whole world, and everything of importance happening in France, are known in the chief cities of Australasia at an earlier hour than they would be made public in many of tbe Provincial cities of the former country. As to the Australian Press, Baron Michel is warm in its praise. At the head of it he places the Argus and the Sydney Morning Herald. With the illustrated and professedly comic journals of Australia the Baron was not so well pleased. Nor did he find much to admire in the architecture of our churches. Concerning the Independent Church, in Collins street east, his note is briefly this : —“ Eglise inddpendante; architecture idem.” But he was much struck with the strength of the religions sentiment in the Colonies; “ Nor is it simply platonic,” he observes, “ for it is militant, and, the members of a sect, whatever it may he, co-operate for its defence, both in word and deed. I need only cite one example. The Rev Charles Strong, minister of the Scots’ Church, one of the most distinguished men I had the honour of becoming acquainted with in Melbourne, having delivered some sermons which, in the opinion of the Presbytery, were not strictly orthodox, was relieved of his functions. Shortly afterwards a deputation of his adherents presented him with a cheque for £3OOO, collected by private subscription in a very brief space of time. All truly liberal men, even those belonging to other communions, approved of tbe popular demonstration on the part of a community which wishes for a religion, but also wishes that it should not be under the domination of a government or of a clique.” From religion to education is a natural transition, and upon this subject the baron thus expresses himself : —“ I am sometimes reproached with having become a little Australian, but this is not so. Is it to be unpatriotic to recognise what is good and beautiful in another country, and to endeavour to induce your own compatriots to profit by it ? I believe not; and I am not afraid to declare that there is not a country in Europe where instruction has been brought to every man’s door as it has been in Australia. Education is compulsory, almost gratuitous, and secular, but the schools are free, while the State reserves a right of control, .which I regard as absolutely legitimate. Secondary teaching: is well understood, and 6000 schools of the first and second grade are distributed among tbe various colonies. Six thousand schools for three million souls! I submit these figures to your serious consideration.” Of course tbe Universities, the various learned societies, the • legislatures, the ecclesiastical establishments, the courts of justice, and the municipal institutions of Australia did not escape the vigilant attention of our visitor. And after speaking of manhood suffrage, vote by ballot, payment of members, and triennial Parliaments, be goes on to say—- “ I ought to add that all this machinery works smoothly, and that, after a close study of those countries, of their progress, of the spirit which animates their inhabitants, one very soon comes to perceive that many questions which appear insoluble in our old Europe are resolved over there with the utmost facility. Here we discuss, we agitate ourselves about things which are often not worth the trouble ; but over there they act. I ought, at the same time, to make a reservation on the subject of universal suffrage, which I look upon as too extended—at least, as regards the time of preliminary residence —and has unfortunate consequences in respect to the development of immigration. Australian workmen, and especially the new comers, are, as a general rule, opposed to immigration; and as they are entitled to the franchise after three months’ residence, their opinion has considerable weight with their representatives, and consequently upon the measures they adopt.” Baron Michel was in Sydney during the agitation of the so-called “ unemployed,” and amused his hearers greatly by repeating to them some of the demands of the speakers at the meetings', who declared that they would not work for less than 12s a'day. ; He adds : “ When the Australian people shall have thoroughly well understood that immigration alone will permit of the development of their re-

sources, they will encourage as much as they now oppose it. I wish then for their speedy return to juster economic ideas.” Although Baron Mich el found Mr Service and other of our leading men very hot on the rdcidiviste question, he bears willing testimony to the frank cordiality with which they receive visitors from France, while he ridicules such of his countrymen in Australia as are in the habit of denouncing it,as a horrible country because there are no cafes and restaurants in its large cities like those on the boulevards of Paris and in the Palais Royal. “ Certainly,” he remarks, “there are some things to be found fault with in Australia—as where are there not ? —but there is also very much to be highly praised. When you present yourself with such sentiments of justice you are always sure of meeting with a kindly reception. I have never departed from them, and a Minister said to me one day, in taking leave of him, ‘You are a true Frenchman.’ I was proud of the compliment.”

With respect to the question of Federation, the baron points out the obstacles to its accomplishment, the chief of these being the fiscal barriers erected by Victoria against her neighbours; but, he says, these obstacles must one day fall to the ground. “ The grandeur and the prosperity of Australia demand it, and the practical spirit of its people will dictate to them what course to pursue in order to bring about this result.” “ The ladies are beautiful—less beautiful than you, no doubt, ladies, but they are really beautiful. Unhappily, in general, they- dress badly. They have not much taste, and they wear such glaring colours • red, blue and green. There are, you see, so many beautiful parrots in Australia.” Baron Michel proceeds to cite some instances, and to make mention of one toilette on the lawn at Flemington, which was said to have come from Paris, and though very handsome, was no less dubious in style. At the same time he was free to admit that he had found the fashions on his return to Paris much uglier than they were when he left it. “ Young girls,” he goes on to observe, “ enjoy a great independence in Australia, and the law. protects them. They are, perhaps, a little giddy, but it is rather in appearance than in reality. They go out alone without beingescorted by their mother or a servant. I like that habit; it teaches them self-reliance and self-protection. It gives them at the same time a sufficiently bold look. They sometimes laugh heartily at foreigners, especially if their moustaches are waxed and pointed; but you cannot complain of this when the laugh serves to disclose a beautiful set of teeth. The men are, in general, a little rough. It is true that they are absorbed in business, and that a good many of them live in the country all the year round. Whatever may be the cause, in point of sociability the men are beMnd the women. A good many young Australians, imitate, by intuition, perhaps, our swells. of the boulevard, our gommeux, and our pschutterx. They Imitate them, and are as bad as they are. I must reproach them, above all, for their want of respect for the aged. ‘ This observation has been made by the Australians tbemslves. In their pleasures, he says, they are more secret than the French, who are, perhaps, somewhat too demonstrative. As to drinking bars, the lecturer found them at the corner of every street. “ These are not,” he observes, "as in France, cafes where a little refreshment is more often than otherwise only a pretext for chat, or where the pedestrian, fatigued by a long walk, takes a seat, during the fine weather, to see the whole city pass before him. Among certain Australians you may be pretty sure that they will not pass two pub-lic-houses without entering one of them. This mania for drinking is one of the plagues of the country. Drunkenness is the most prevailing vice ; and I must take the opportunity of addressing? an earnest remonstrance to the matrons and maidens of Australia, for if they would only adopt a firm attitude the evil would very soon disappear, if not entirely, at any rate to a very considerable extent.” The baron says he has seen drunken men enter omnibusses, railway carriages, and tram-cars; and at the same time the female occupants of them, instead of turning away in disgust, have merely smiled, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

The lecturer visited our theatres and opera-houses, where he found the vocalists and the choruses rivalling each other in their efforts to produce the most earpiercing and strident sounds; and the louder they screeched the greater the applause they evoked, especially from the whistlers in the gallery. But as regards the dramatic performances, Baron Michel does not hesitate to declare that he has passed some very pleasant evenings in the theatres of Melbourne and Sydney. In speaking of music, he cannot refrain from animadverting, on the abuse of tbe piano which prevails in Australia. He found the instrument every where; and it is so universal, he says, in Sydney that the city has received the name of Pianopolis. “ Australian girls are charming creatures, and graceful withal,” the baron is good enough to say; “ but they play horribly badly on the piano. On the other hand, they play often. Ido not dispute that this immoderate taste for noise is a good thing for the importers of pianos; but, frankly speaking, if they would choose a less sonorous instrument I should be greatly pleased.” In conclusion, Baron Michel touches upon tbe future relations of France with the Australian Colonies, upon which subject he thus expresses himself: —“ Being an avowed partisan of the English alliance, is it necessary for me to add that we ought to live on equally good terms with the Australian Colonies ? I do not mean to say by that the Australians could, at the present time, equip such a fleet and organise such an army as would enable them to take New Caledonia from us. But the Australian people are growing, and a day will come when we must reckon with them. Let us pave the way then for a veritable cordial understanding. Let us have there a representation worthy of Prance.” And then he goes on to insist upon the neeessity of having a Consul-General here of the first-class, with whom such questions as that of the recidivistes might be discussed by the local Governments. “ Inasmuch,” continues the lecturer, “ as we wish Prance to acquire in Australia the rank becoming her commerce and her industry, let us demand a representation there which shall be worthy of herself, and worthy, let me add, of those Colonies. Let us look upon this Australian people as a power that is marching towards a great future; let us live amicably with it, and we may thus form commercial ties which will be profitable to all. If Prance wishes to open up markets over there, let it be represented as a great nation ought to be. Germany, Italy, Belgium, and the Hnited States have Consuls-General in Australia, and France alone has not.” Finally, he says, “ The more our compatriots visit that admirable country the better will they be able to testify to the prodigies which can be accomplished by the freedom of individual initiative when it is indissolubly associated with absolute respect for the law.”