AUSTRALIAN PROBLEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18299, 16 January 1923, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN PROBLEMS.

■<»>- ■' - CLIMATE AND SETTLEMENT. POPULATION OF THE FUTURE [BY TELEGRAPH,PRESS' ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Monday. Before the geographical and research section of the Science Congress Professor Griffith Taylor delivered his presidential address of the* section, taking as his subject Geography and Australian National Problems." The need for a thorough scientific survey of the Melanesian islands in the interests of ethnology was emphasised. ■ '~ j -- ■'-~/ The distribution of , population in Australia ■; was .next dealt with, the arid regions being shown as losing population, while only lands fit. for close settlement were progressing. The lecturer showed that, the central regions of Australia were analogous in origin and climate to those of Northern Africa, Nigeria being verysimilar to the Northern Australian uplands. Tropical settlement was considered from the point of view of health, mortal-. ity, housing, economics, and future crops. Interesting reference was made Australian desert, which ranks next in area to the Sahara, and to' its bearing on climatic conditions. The future settlement of Australia was discussed, and an attempt was. made to "'show how population would be. distributed in a century or less. Charts, which speaker claimed would be of some assistance .to future statesmen■", in deciding where to spend public moneys, were displayed. A brief description of the zones of coloured people, in ' Northern Australia raised the question of whether«, the "White Australia" policy in its strictest form ' was the best for' future generations, the lecturer contending that it was absurd to judge present and future problems by what had happened with .the negro in the United States. . Referring'jo the question of the settlement of Australian lands, the speaker said the' Commonwealth was capable of sustaining sonic £0,000,000 white settlers, but settlement would Like place within the regions already 'mostly alienated. Australia had, in fact, practically reached the age .of resumption of land so. far as noteworthy settlement was concerned. During the course of his lecture. Professor Taylor emphasised the importance of establishing a chair of geography in connection with the New Zealand University, predicting if this were done, it would soon prove one of the most, popular schools among our seats of learning.