"A GREAT COUNTRY."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18235, 31 October 1922, Page 8

"A GREAT COUNTRY."

IMPRESSIONS OF AUSTRALIA. SCHEME OF IMMIGRATION. "It is a great country* and I was immensely struck, especially by West Australia," said Sir William Boach _ Thomas, the war correspondent, who arrived yesterday by the Niagara, in speaking of ha visit to Australia. Sir William spoke enthusiastically of the West Australian immigration scheme, which he pronounced to bo the best-he had heard of. Immigrants were being brought into the State in enormous numbers. They wero arriving in thousands. The Government had heaps of land, and thare was really only a handful of people there. Special inducements were offered to families. The immigrants were placed on uncleared land in groups of 20, under an Australian manager. The Government paid wages to the workers until the land was cleared. Then when the farms were workable, the immigrants gradually paid up the purchase price, which consisted only of the amount of money paid in wages by the Government. Under such a system the State could not suffer, even where immigrants failed to fulfil their part, becauso the. land was always being improved. Referring to housing accommodation for the immigrants, the war correspondent mentioned that when he was with him, Sir James Mitchell, Premier of West Australia, gave an order for 1000 fourroomed cottages, to cost £200 each. The cottages would all be erected in a month or two. "People under-estimate the beauty of Australia,"- Sir William added. "They talk about the drought, but it is a beautiful climate."