The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1891-05-06
AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION.
From an American Point Of
View.
Science Association, april "a
1901, by Prof. w. ID. Alexander.

The cause of this state of things |
have net seen fully explained. 1t
seems to an outsider, that the bulk
of the emigration to these colonies
has been composed of townspeople,
artisans, tradesmen, railway nav
vies. miners, etc., who naturally
drift into the towns. 1t has been
found very difficult to draw the agri
cultural population of Great Britain
TO such distance. Another cause
has been the land monopoly. In
New South WSles, the so-called
"squatters," or rich sheep owners,
holding the greater part of the lana
by long leases from the Crown on
nominal rents, have prevented the
adoption of liberal land policy. 1t
is deplorable that so young q state
should show only Al percent of her
population as land owners, while but
a fraction of Der agricultural lands
are under cultivation. Owing to the
nature of the climate, rural life is
probably not as inviting there as it is
IN New Zealand, and it may be too
slow to suit the impatient temper OF
the people.
The consequence is that the demo-
cracy of these colonies is town de-
mocracy like that of the city states
of ancient Greece, under the felVid
sun of the South. Here the work
ingmen Excluding the farmers), en-
Joy greater political influence than
in any other country. Labor is writ
ten with a capital l.. Wages are
double what they are in England, and
eight hours is the limit for working
day, fixed by custom throughout
Australia. In the larger towns, but
five hours work is generally done on
Saturday, and the shops close earlier
than in England or America.
Building and loan societies -four
ish, and large proportion of the
workingmen are said to be freehold
ers. 1t is a healthy sign that in
Victoria alone there are 200, 900 de-
positors in Savings Banks, with over
twenty million dollars deposited.
There is no submerged tenth" in
Australia. But it is said to be the
Paradise of tramps, or shutdown
ers," as they are called.
The universal fondness of the
Australians for all kinds of athletic
sports and out-of- door amusements is
we'll known, and will help to main
tain the vigor of the race. The say
ing that the English ''take their
amusements sadly" as if they were
bored by them, does not apply to the
pleasure loving Australians. The
universal passion for gardening de-
serves commentator.
The workingmen are naturally anx-
ious to retain permanently the ex-
ceptional advantages of their posi-
ton. They strongly oppose all fur
ther immigration to the Colonies, and
have formed an extensive federation
of trades unions which have recently
become more aggressive. Last year
the largest boycott that the world
ever saw took place in Australia, for
the purpose, as it would seem, of de-
stroying all freedom of contract in
labor on that continent, but failed
because the majority of the people
condemned it as unjust. Lately in
Queensland troops have been sent to
protect free laborers, engaged in
shearing sheep, from trade unionists
Here lies the greatest danger to the
future of Australia. Democratic alb
solutlsm is as fatal TO freedom as any
other kind of absolutism.
1t is natural that State Socialism
should flourish in such an atmos-
phere. In Australia generally the
State constructs and manages the
railways and telegraphs and largely
assists irrigation works and other To-
cal enterprises. LOG rolling" is
we'll understood in the Colonies. Un-
der this system, the great titles have
We'd with each other in expending
vast sums for magnificent buildings,
extensive parks, botanical gardens,
libraries, museums, art galleries, ETC.,
which are open TO all, and which ex
cite the admiration of every visitor.
There is strong tendency to pledge
the State to engage in new public
works to create work for the unem-
ployed, while loan after loan is floated
IN London to meet the expense.
There is an undue tendency in the
country districts to lean on the CEN
trail government for help, which is
not the Anglo-Saxon way.
According to MIR. Charles Fairfield,
in IA Plea for Liberty" the whole
fabric of this State Socialism is I'M
sound, and the apparent prosperity
of these Colonies, including high
wages, short hours, extravagant ed
vocational institutions and other State
luxuries is maintained by ''progres-
sIve borrowings" He asserts that
the net earnings of their railways
fall far short of paying the interest
on the investment.
So vast, however, are the resources
of Australia, that her credit is still
unimpaired- She exports more per
head of population than any other