[PUBLISHED DAILY.] THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1009.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12750, 22 April 1909, Page 4

[PUBLISHED DAILY.] THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1009.

NEW ZEILAnS COMPARED WITH AUSTRALIA

Mb G. W. Russell,, M.P., who has been on a visit to Australia, has returned to the Dominion quite convinced that New Zealand has not much to learn from the Federal States, and impressed with the fact that, as compared with tlie Commonwealth, the Dominion lacks little in the matter of enterprise and progression, while as to educational and political development she is ahead. Tasmania (his boyhood's home), he says is in a very backward state. It is cursed with the large landlord evil, and if the country were cut up and subdivided as New Zealand is, Mr Russell thinks it would carry three times 180,000 people, .which is the present population. There is practically no dairying industry there. Although it produces the best sheep in Australia, there is hardly any meat export, the only attempt being in the north, where one or two refrigerating vessels carry sheep over to Melbourne for shipment Home. He is disappointed with Victoria's efforts to educate her children. As far as education is concerned, he is satisfied that New Zealand is at least 20 years ahead of Victoria j in' regard to botJi primary and secondary systems of education. That State has not got the impetus that is given to public c pinion here by school committees and elective Education Boards, and as far as he could ascertain, there is no State secondary system of education whatever in Victoria. The secondary 1 education is provided by sectarian colleges: They take the place of our, high- schools. As for a system like New Zealand's, by which a boy may go from the primary school to the secondary school and on to the university, without any cost to his parents, it seems to be absolutely unknown. Victoria, like Tasmania, is cursed with the large landlord system. Large areas of valuable land are locked up, and are only partly cultivated. If they were placed in the hands of the people under a system on the same lines as our land for settlements scheme, the result would be a very large increase of production. In going b,y rail to Sydney, Mr Russell was lost in admiration of Victoria's railway equipment. The luxurious perfection of the ears excited his warmest admiration. At the same time, even with the wide gauge, sft 4in in Victoria and 4ft B£in in New South Wales, he does not think that for smoothness of running and general working the Australian trains are superior to the best lines in New Zealand, which have a gauge of only 3ft 6in. The licensing laws of the' States attracted his attention. Those who complain of the administration of our licensing laws, he says, if they inquired into the Australian conditions would admit that they have much to be thankful for on account of what has been done to promote temperance. In Tasmania and Victoria the hotels remain open every night until 11.30 o'clock. He believes that on race nights, in both States, they are open until 2 a.m. The licensing laws, indeed, seem to be very lax, especially in Victoria. There were many evils which he could not help noticing, and when he compares them with the strictness and thoroughness with which our own licensing laws are administered he feels that we i are far in advance of those Australian States: New South Wales has passed re-

form laws, and these arc strictly observed by the licensed houses. In Sydney the houses close at 11 p.m. "When I look npon the healthy conditions, morally, socially, potically, and educationally in New Zealand," Mr Russell said in conclusion. "1 am thankful that my lot has been cast in this country. I am more convinced thai) ever that New Zealand has a great future before her, and that our destiny is to continue as we have done in the past, anc to stand in the front of the nations that make up the British Empire."