DEVELOPING QUEENSLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17475, 20 May 1920, Page 5

DEVELOPING QUEENSLAND.

PREMIER IN ENGLAND. COTTON-GROWING POSSIBILITIES. Australuo z.nd N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 10.20 p.m.) LONDON, May 18. M. E. G. Theodore, Premier of Queensland. who recently arrived in England, discussed the subject of co<,ton-growing in Queensland with Mr. J. M. Hunter, A.gent-GeneraL Mr. Hunter subsequently told the Australian Press Association that Queensland would now take up the matter seriously. He had no doubt that definite steps <o establish a cotton-growing enterprise m Queensland would be undertaken. The present high prices of cotton and the likelihood of them ruling for a considerable time justified the experiment, and made cotton -picking less dependent on cheap labour than formerly. During his visit to the United Slates Mr. Theodore investigated cotton growing in California. where condition* most closely ppniximat«xl to those of Queensland. Investigations convinced him that it was tolerably certain that Quensland could make cotton growing a rum pus. Referring to Ins visit to the fulled State?, Mr. Theodore said that lab >ur cot . ditions there -*ere most disturbed Tim , i tendemy towards higher wages and shorter hours wa.i particularly marked. The nountry «'as stiff pi ing owing to reactionary labour leaders and the absence of satis : ton' methods of adjudicating disputes, , legulating condit and controlling col- ] iertive bargaining. Mr. Theodore intends to visit (lie iron ! ;,nd steel producing districts of Kngland and the Continent with reference to the purchase of plant. He will f.moablv re- | main two months in England. Me has j arranged to meet representatives of pasI (oral and banking interests in the city I responsible for the recent protest against i leasehold legislation in Queensland. *