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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9022, 29 October 1892, Page 4

A very curious piece of legislation has been introduced into the Parliament of New South Wales. It seems that camels have come into use over a considerable portion of the hot and arid portion of the interior of Australia. They are better than horses or bullocks, as they can go longer without water, while they are hardier and more economical to keep. Throughout the country between the south-west corner of Queensland and the main trunk line of South Australia camels have been used for years. Many of the inhabitants of small townships in the interior would have suffered much from privation during the past few years but for the camel teams. But the new Bill, which has been introduced by one of the members for Bourke, provides that no person shall in any way use a camel within the boundaries of any municipality in the colony of New South Wales. The argument is, that camels startle horses which are not ac-

customed to them. So do donkey* fop that nutter, and "many other objects. The real reason, however, for the effort to banish camels is believed' to be because tiey are usually owned and driven m Afghans, and the Afghanis regarded in the same light as the ' heathen Ohinee." He also saves his money, and, is so degraded that he declines to s »pend his earnings with the publican. It is suggested, however, as a way of getting out of this difficulty that Europeans might drive camels as well as Afghans, and the European may safely be trusted to do a fair share of drinking. The oamel was introduced to Australia because it did not drink • it is now to. be banished because its' drivers will not drink.