Passing of the Digger.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 26, Issue 63, 3 August 1915, Page 2

Passing of the Digger.

Once again cold figures ring the knell of Australia’s days of commercial romance. After proving to the world that she was potentially the greatest merino wool producer, she continued her career of sensationalism and drew ilmnigrants from all parts of the world by the magnet of her gold. 1 Each attraction drew its own particular • devotees, and both these types have changed with the altered conditions of the avocations which they represented, The old happy-go-lucky squatter who sallied forth taking aft his possessions with him in a bullock dray, and Wandered up and down Australia in quest of 'country,’ has for long been replaced by the soulless director, who, sitting in his city office, issues stereotyped orders to his outback manager.

The. wire fence has superseded the boundary rider and shepherd, while the motor-car has entirely taken the place of horse and buggy, so the last remaining bush identity—the sundowner—finds an entirely new regime at the hospitable old homesteads ; a strange company of up-to-date busy and businesslike managers and overseers, who have no interest or time for his fast-disappearing class. 1 Even the station blackfellow has been gathered into the dead limbo of the past, and his descendants feebly and unhappily totter down life’s pathway as Government dependants. Australia owes her expansion and development to her wool industry, and the work of increasing the land’s carrying capacity has only just begun.

It is, therefore, .not to be regretted that the days of romance are over, and that hard-headed practical business men have taken the helm and are, successfully navigating. Australia’s ship to a haven of peace and plenty.

Statistics show the steady decline of Australia’s gold mining industry, which, during the last decade, has decreased 50 per cent. in the olden—and golden—days men roamed up and down seeking for the precious metal. No capital was required, they simply followed the rushes that occurred in various parts of the country.

Now .in New South Wales, now north in Victoria, now inland from the Gulf or Port Darwiit, and last but not least, the fields of Kalgoorlie. The old-time digger found his gold easily and spent it freely. He has left his indelible impression on the national character by imposing upon the race that love of chance and sport which is so inseparable an adjunct of the Australian character.

But as the surface gold became exhausted, the old-time picturesque digger was forced to make way for the modern miner and became merely a unit in the industrial army ruled by secretaries, conferences, and labour unions.

Over forty years ago the company promotor, who (had learned his business in Victoria’s wonderful goldfields made his appearance, and led the way to the day when the Commonwealth mineral resources passed into the control of the city capitalist and the prospector became but the instrument of the member of the stock exchange,