Polynesian., 1859-06-11
CHE 1Dolpuesian.
Wool.

1t has been said that he who makes a blade of
grass grow where all before was barren is a bene-
factor to his species. Something surely analogous
may be said of Mr.. Macarthur, who first introduced
sheep-farming into Australia We are too apt to
attribute daring acts of enterprise simply to inter
ested motives. Admitting to the fullest extent all
that the depreciatory views of cynical and disap-
pointed men may present, there remains debt of
gratitude to the man whose public spirit although
moved by coordinate anxiety for his own inter
est, leads him to run great risks and incur large
expense to test the capabilities of an unknown
climate and country for the production of new
source Of national wealth. 1t was Il successful eff
fort. Little more than half century has elapsed
since the first merinos were imported into New
| South Wales At that time the largest supplies
| of foreign wool for the English woolen manufac-
| lures came from Spain, the native country of the
merino sheep. The progressive increase Of that
manufacture in England, and in which the inter
ests OF all the Australian colonies now SO init
matey bound up, is 4 subject which will repay
close observation. Its vast expansion since the
| commencement OF the present century seems to
have been purely q of action and reaction or
rather of supply and demand. The greater supply
of the raw material having stimulated production
and excited improvement both in the machinery
and fabrics of which wool is the base, there arose
in consequence an increasing demand for the raw
material, the supply Of which is never likely to
move far in advance of the natural demand for its
use. In 1899 the importation Of foreign wool in
to England was only 2,26300 lbs in 1857 the
| amount of foreign and colonial wool reached l27-
0OO 900 lbs, of which "a 100000 lbs. were re-
tanned for home consumption, the rest having been
exported. The gradual prostration of the noble
country of Spain is evidenced by the fact that
while in 1900 more than 100000 lbs, or two
thirds of the whole foreign supply, came from that
land she only supplied in 1857 1888 900 lbs. of
the vast Importation. Saxony and Silesian woods
have superseded them. In 1900 these countries
only supplied the English market with 4l2,000
lbs. in 1880 they provided it with 25,0O0,O00
pounds German wool is still the finest but so
closely have the Australians approached to its
merits that the importation has fallen off to less
than 5000 600 lbs. in 1857. These are interest
ing data and lead naturally to the inquiry how
far has the pastoral interest of Australia claim
ON our regard We think it undoubtedly has a
very powerful one, and we proceed to make the
fact prominent by brief detail of its wonderful
progress. In 1910 a single bale of Australian
wool, weighing l67 lbs, made its appearance at a
London sale the first product of the merinos i'm
ported by Macarthur. In 1857 the total impOrta-
tion from the Australian colonies was 40 100000
lbs, nearly two-ifths of the whole foreign and
colonial woods brought to market. Now, when
we look at the augmentation and distribution of
wealth thus excited, both in the production of the
raw material, its transport, and its subsequent
we can recall few examples of SO rapid and exten-
sive success. The production OF this staple is
even yet only keeping pace with the ingenuity of
English manufacturers, whose inventive skill al-
fords yearly proofs of the elegance as well as
utility, of their fabrics. The South African set
tiers have also been diligently directing their at
tentiOn to pastoral pursuits, and the Cape woods,
which afforded a source of supply in 1916 of only
1923 lbs, yielded in 1857 the large amount of
IA, ,287 900 lbs. 1t will probably surprise many
of readers to know that this large import into
Great Britain is exceeded in quantity by that of
home growth, which is estimated ut l75,00O,00Q
lbs. per annum of this little more than Is, ,000-
900 lbs. were exported, leaving, therefore, the
wooden manufacture of the United Kingdom to
consume about 250, 100000 lbs. yearly.
Regarded as one Of the chief articles Of colonial
industry this survey of the wool trade cannot fail
to be suggestive. There are doubtless other sour
ces of wealth admitting of the sam9 indefinite in
crease, for which the climate and soil afford ample
facilities. In particular may instance wine.
Unfortunately the forward tendency in this case
is fettered by fiscal Instructions which We hope
may soon be satisfactorily removed, and by the
heavy capital required to mature sufficiently the
admitted excellent grOwths of our vineyards, and
render them able to compete with wines of estab-
lished reputation. The high rate Of labor, in
fact in new colonies, prevents innumerablc exper-
iments being made on articles of produce which
there is every reason to believe might be raised
successfully. Among these, numerous medicinal
plants, of high price as drugs, might be grown,
and in the more northern portions of the conti
nent cotton could be cultivated successfully.