HAPLESS DARWIN.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15998, 28 May 1924, Page 14

HAPLESS DARWIN.

A SCENE OF DESOLATION. Views on the future of Darwin, and the Northern Territory generally, nearly always alternate between tho extremes of optimism and pessimism. The impressions of Mr T. Bcehan, a well-known (juccnsland station owner and meat magnate, who has just returned from a visit to Darwin and the East, appear to fall into the latter category (sajs a Sydney writer). "Darwin," he says, "is a 'while elephant' in every way. There is practically no trade or industry; the people arc miserable and unhealthy: and the town itself is in a sorry state of neglect. The railway through the iown is covered with weeds, and there is only one train a fortnight going inland. The inhabitants are practically cut 'off from the rest of the world. No newspapers are received —all the news is obtained by telegram, since ■alien labour has been done away with construction has been at a standstill." The meat industry. Mr Baldwin said, had toiled lamentably. When the industry was commenced great hopes were entertained for a large trade in frozen meat with the East, but this has now fallen through. Owing to lack of fresh water the firsl consignments of meat were cooked in brackish water, and buyers became prejudiced against Curl her supplies. Now thr.'c was no industry iat all, as lhc workers' quarters at the meat works had hern burnt down, and had not heen rebuilt.

"And I am still quite sure," adtlcei .Mr Bcehan, "that there will he no further industry for years lo .'.ome." While in the East Mr Beehan investigated cold storage conditions, and the opportunities of trade for Australian frozen moat. He also gained some interesting sidelights into prevailing living conditions in the densely-populated parts of China.

While in China Mr Bochan became convinced thai Australia stood no chance ol' a wood trade in frozen meat with that country. There was very little cold storage, and the bulk of (lie frozen moat imported came from America. America also supplied China with lame quantities of canned foodstuffs, which, Mr Bcelian considered, were vastly superior to the Australian tinned products.