AUSTRALIA’S PROBLEMS

Southland Times, Issue 20014, 30 October 1926, Page 5

AUSTRALIA’S PROBLEMS

NORTHERN TERRITORIES. TOO MANY POLITICIANS. COUNTRY VERSUS TOWN. “It would be much better if the people of Australia and of New Zealand knew more of each either, knew more of their difficulties and their problems than they do at the present time,” said Sir John Sulinan, who addressed Auckland Rotarians recently on “Australia and its Problems.” Sir John first contrasted the appearance of the two countries. In New Zealand he was struck by the vivid greenness of the countryside, whereas the prevailing colours of the Australian landscape were brown and lighter greens. The speaker drew attention to the fact that 62 per cent of the population were town dwellers. This was looked upon by many as an evil. It was an evil if Hie conditions of life in the cities were not good. The lack of population in the Northern Territories and the policy of a While Australia were dealt with. It was still an wpeu question, said Sir John, whether thxcuv tropical areas could be successfully peopled by a white race. As an alternative there was the immigration of Mediterranean peoples, and it seemed that this mifht bw preferable to the admission of tta (lurk-akinned races. Australians did not wuit • repetition of America’s negro problem. Yet another alternative was the imporUitwn wf indentured labour and this had nut proved satisfactory. Even on a winter's day the heat was so intense in parts of the north that no white man could do a full day’s work there. The settlement uf these areas could never be satisfactory until the land was cultivated agriculturally. Australia was now tackling this problem and unless satisfactorily settled it would be inevitable that coloured people would have to be introduced. The late Lord Leverhulme, who himself had had experiences with tropical undertakings, declared thai the Northern Territories could not be settled by white people and thereby brought upon himself a storm of protest from a section of the community.

The political conditions of the Commonwealth were also referred to, and Sir John said he had to admit regretfully that Bolshevism had been introduced into the councils of the working classes. Another undesirable factor was a marked division between the interests of the country and the towns. This brought acute problems. Personally, ho was satisfied that higher prices would have to bo paid locally for Australia’s raw products than were obtainable for export purposes. This would be necessary if they were to keep their agricultural population on the land. Political problems were involved in the fact that with about seven million people they had seven governments. In consequence there were divergent policies as between the different States. There were too many politicians and too many civil servants. Some simplification was needed if they were to reduce public expenditure and harmonise conflicting interests. Finalising, the speaker said he had the fullest confidence that the British attribute of sanity, shared in common by New Zealanders as by Australians, would solve these problems ultimately, an<| that these young nations would win through.