QUEENSLAND.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13651, 20 July 1908, Page 6

QUEENSLAND.

ATM ACTION S FOR NEW ZEALAXDJiIiS. CHAT WITH A WOVKKNJLKNT AGENT. Mr D<.'Wiir. agent for the Queensland Crown Lands Jjepartinent returned to Christ church on Saturday. Whilst* in 'iiniaru lie Wiui seen by a number ot farmers who were desirous of <-b aining information abouc the terms 011 which the Quceiraland Governmemnt i,s ottering land lor , settlement, and he hud a stock of leaflets containing such information on which In? could draw, as well as peioonal knowledge of the istibjec. Some of his vifcitoiri- in Tiiuaru were fanners who have tionti to settle ill life; some wer-w farm: rs desirous of exchanging agriculture lur I lie easier pastoral industry, and .therefore required larger areas than are readily obtainable in New "Zealand. In conversation : wii.li a " Herald repor er, Mr Dewar ridiculed the commonly expressed fear that the climate would be. very hot for a New Zea.'ander. " New Zealandeis who ; have gone there do not complain. Start at Melbourne and go.i lipj'tli. The Melbourne ]>eople will say: ' Our climate is first rate; but Sydney's

a bit too hot.' 06 vo Bydliey,- and they say the same as Melbourne about; their own climate ; there it is Brisbane that s ' a bit too hot.' Brisbane passes it on to Kockhampton, and when you get to llockltairtptou you iind' that the place that's 'a bit too lint' is further north istill ; it's Thursday inland " '.Llie fact is/' said Mr Dewai',- " the Brit-ishet's eonsti■Jution is good for any eliniak',- if (i. is not wet and malarious. Then Netf Zs'tf lenders say: ' But you liavo snakes of€r there.' The Quecnslander replies: 'You have earthquakes in New Zealand, and I'd rather have snakes.' " ( 'Jlie Queensland lands settlement system is tioo large a thing to be briefly described or summarised. A& Mr Dewar put it) it is about the most liberal system fit {Jreseht <'*taffb Queiifiland wants population especially itiial population, and in order to draw the people out of the ttfwns; and to draw theift from other Sta <s and other lands,- the Premier adopted and adapted Canadian ideas. He paid a visit to Canada for the express purpose of ascertaining what these ideas are. Australia is spaisely populated everywhere, except in the overgrown cities, but (Queensland has not lialf the population of New South Wales or Victoria though much larger in area than either of them. The future development of Queensitilid appeals to lie, -said Mr Dewar, in tile direction of reduction of the size of holdings. lind tile cultivation of the land instead Of Only grazing (stock oil the ilatuhd grasses. Droughts Jilay come and ciry iiji these grasses,- biit M i h a stock of ensilage made in good seasons a man may laugh at. droughts. Wakr is. to be had everywhere at 110 great depth, and ensilage and water will keep his stock thriving. New Zealanders who have never been over there, have. 110 idea of the amount of fodder that can be grown on the rich Darling Down lands. Tlie native grasses are so rank that sheep canltot be put oil new country until the grasses Lave been broken down by catlie. ISO, remarked the reporter, Queensland has scut you over here to induce our people to emigrate. Don't you think it's unfair, 10 ask I=o young a dominion to play ilie part of " Mother Country" to your big Sta'c? Mr Dewar did not see thai! it waa unfair. "You are turning out your big landholders because you have not land enough for all your wouldbe farmers. Queensland can take some of these, and also relieve you altogether of y:,tir big Men now thai, you are tired of them."