EMPTY AUSTRALIA

Northern Advocate, 17 February 1926, Page 7

EMPTY AUSTRALIA

EARTH-HUNGRY PEOPLES. “VERY REAL ASIATIC MENACE.” 11 The eyes of the world are focussed upon the Pacific, and earth-hungry peoples in two hemispheres cast a longing gaze on Australia,” said Mr. R, J, Black, M.L.C., lately in Sydney, at an annual dinner of the Australasian Pioneers’ Club, of which he is president. Mr. Black stated that there' were many who threw envious and covetous glances upon this immense yet practically unused and unpeopled continent. Its emptiness and defencelessness were facts that should cause every thinking man grave concern. “Here,” he continued, “is a continent equal in extent and quite as rich as the United States of America, probably capable of supporting from 60,000,000 to 100,000,000 of people, and occupied by only about 6,000,000. It is staggering to contemplate the precarious hold we have on Australia. ’ ’

The position, Mr. Black went on, was tragic. But for the might of Great Britain, Australia would never have attained its present proud position. Millions upon millions of people in other countries were below the “bread-line.” [ Cramped, crowded- and anxious, the i peoples of the East were turning in their centuries-old sleep. Sooner or later these nations would make themselves felt, and they would demand an outlet for their ever-increasing myriads. “The menace of Asia is, a very real tiring,” he added. Mr. Black was pessimistic about the outlook for Australia. He said that industry was paralysed, there was strike after strike, a mad race after pleasures of questionable value, a rising tide of lawlessness, and an insidious, but nevertheless fatal loosening of the old and sacred ties which bind a people together. There was an urgent need for wiser legislation.