RETURNING PROSPERITY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23110, 9 February 1937, Page 9

RETURNING PROSPERITY

SOUTH AUSTRALIA’S POSITION

HIGH WHEAT YIELD FORECAST FIVE-YEAR TERM FOR PARLIAMENT (Special to Daily Times) WELLINGTON, Feb. 8. “ This has been the wettest and coldest summer on record in South Australia,” said Mr H. G. Hawkins, M.L.C., of Adelaide, who arrived at Wellington to-day by the Awatea on a tour of New Zealand, “ otherwise the season has been a fairly good one for wheat, wool and dairy farming.” Wheat, one of the principal products of South Australia, appeared likely to top the 28,000,000 bushel output that had been forecast for the State. Like wool, their other staple product, it was fetching wonderful prices, said Mr Hawkins.

The effects of the depression were almost completely banished, while the Adelaide Centenary year just ended had done a great deal of good for the State, particularly in the way of attracting tourists and advertising South Australia overseas. The returning prosperity was reflected m the brisk state of the building trades. Many fine new buildings were going up in Adelaide, the most important being the completion of the new Parliament House. Towards the cost of completing this building, estimated at £256,000, Sir Langdon Bonython, K.C.M.G., editor and sole proprietor of the Advertiser, gave £ 100,000. The new portion would house the Legislative Council, which sat previously in an 85-year-old building. The parliamentary library and other facilities and the accommodation for members had hitherto been meagre. An interesting experiment in Parliamentary procedure in Australia, Mr Hawkins said, was the trial in South Australia of a fiveyear term of office, giving Parliament an opportunity to consolidate the whole statutory law of the State. It had proved so successful that it was to be brought down for permanent establishment this year.. It had made possible such schemes as the five-year road plan which, apart from its material benefit to the State highways, provided employment for thousands, including, in particular, men of about 50 years, who would otherwise find difficulty in obtaining jobs. Another burning question among Parliamentarians was the referendum to alter the Federal Constitution, on which a vote was to be taken. The main objects of the referendum were to institute an orderly marketing for primary products and to give the Commonwealth Government control of the air. The orderly marketing scheme rather differed from New Zealand’s Primary Produce Marketing System. It did not give the Government complete control of such produce, but ensured an equable home consumption price. The bigger States were expected to support the scheme, but it was thought that South Australia would not do so. To pass the measure it would be necessary for it to be passed by four States and to obtain a majority in the Commonwealth Government. Mr Hawkins said that he himself, although he supported the measure, did not think it would go through at present.