A VICTORIAN'S VIEWS ON NEW ZEALAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2672, 31 May 1905, Page 8

A VICTORIAN'S VIEWS ON NEW ZEALAND.

(Cobram Courier, May 11.) Mr J. A. S. Millar, son of Mr D. C. Millar, of Cobram, who left this _ district about six months ago to settle in New Zealand-, has returned,, and in the course of .an interesting conversation with our representative, he gave an account of his impressions. "I have notfaing to cay against MaoriJand as a progressive, up-to-date place in general," said Mr Millar, ''but it was eimslj. the cold thn>t drovo mo tack again.

Talk as they like, my experience and candid opinion is that Australia is ahead of New Zealand in -many things; Victoria is better than the other States of the Commonwealth, and the Goulburn Valley is the best place in Victoria. New Zealand has advanced legislation, a more clearly-defined policy of Protection than the Commonwealth, and prohibition in several districts, but its cold, wintry climate is not suited to Australians."

"What about agriculture?" "Oh, agriculture is very mixed over there. They grow vegetables by the acre ; not like the little garden plots we have here. Peas, ca&bages, turnips, etc., are cultivated by the mile, so to speak, and the rainfall is more than ample to keep them growing. Oats and wheat are largely grown, the former yielding an average of 60 to 70 bushels per acre, while wheat averages 40 bushels. No, it's not a good milling wheat, as it is too soft, though of beautiful colour, but whether it would grist better if kiln-dried I could not say. Flax is another product that they go j[n fpr. largely over there, and it grows to profusion. The New Zealanders are very up to date in their threshing machines, and Australia can't show them any points in that respect. I never saw a stripper or a harvester all the time I wae there; everything is cut and threshed. Regarding the wheat crop, ft is more liable to smut than ours, though rust has not been experienced for over five years. In ploughs they are 20 years behind the times, and it's funny to see their ploughs with wooden handles behind to guide them with, like our old-fashioned single-furrows. Farming is more diversified there than here, and what with dairying, general farm produce, and breeding all sorts of stock, their incomes are fairly regular." "How is the labour market over there.?"

"Any amount of work, particularly for those who are willing to work and have a knowledge of farming pursuits. Wages are very good, bub tha cost of living is high in proportion. Clothing and boots are especially dear, and! for n, suit that costs £♦ 10s in Victoria they ask £6 10s in New Zealand, -while boots are nearly 50 per cent, dearer than here-. Speaking of work reminds me to say that the New- Zealand labourers don't like the Australians coming in and getting the billets, and! for a time they display great antipathy to thei new arrivals, but get friendly after a while. The people, generally, are very clannish, and at times a stand-up fight is the only thing to make them have due respect for Australians., Prohibition is in force in certain districts, ' but fche amount of drinking done in other places is astonishing, and I don't think there is anything like it over here. They say that prohibition will be applied all over New Zealand some day, but I 'hae my doots,' and, even if it is, there are many people who will smuggle ifc in eomehow."