AUSTRALIA

New Zealand Times, Volume LIV, Issue 12660, 21 January 1927, Page 11

AUSTRALIA

BIRTHDAY of federation GIANT STRIDES MADE. Australia celebrated its ■ 26th. birthday as a nation on New Year’s Day last. In a little over a quarter of a tentury it has grown into a powerful init of the Empire. Population has increased from 8,824,913 in 1901, to over six millions. The area of wheat under cultivation has nearly doubled . (5,115,965 — 10,175,194 acres). Better farming has been responsible for the wheat yield increasing 50 per cent, per acre. The number of sheep has grown from 72,040,211 to 93,154,353, and ;.he figures for horse 6 and cattle show similar, increases. The total estimated ■valhe of pastoral and dairying production has more than quadrupled, the figures being £36,890,000 (1901) and £167,081,000 (1925). The value of minerals produced has increased only slightly, and this is offset by the rise in values. The total railway mileage has nearly doubled, the figures being 12,579 and 24,844. THRIFT OF PEOPLE. Saving bank figures show huge 'ncreases, and the average deposit per head of population has risen from £3 5s to £3O 17s sd. In tho 26 years free trade between the States has been established, Australia has obtained her own navy, and compulsory military training Ims been instituted. Penny postage, now only a memory, was established in 1911. There is a dark side to the picture The 26 years has seen big railway and mining disasters. The Waratali disappeared in 1908 with 300 passengers and crew, and the cause of her sinking will probably never be discovered. The Great War came, and found Australia willing to do her share in the ight for freedom. Altogether 400,000 men enlisted in the A.1.F., and, of those, 60,000 died on service. . RAIL UNIFICATION. Northern Queensland and West Australia have been linked by railway linos but the unification of gauges is still as far off as ever. Twenty-six years’ talk, with the cost becoming greater every dav, lias not solved the problem propounded by a Scotch engineer many years ago. England and Australia have been linked by air by Sir Boss Smith. Liout. Parer, and Sir Alan Cobham, while Do Pinedo has flown from Horne to Australia and hack.