The Denison review., 1899-07-04
Lessons From Australia.
IDes Moines Leader.)

SA.AS
country after an absence of six months
to the antipodes, where he went to
study the political and economical con-
ditions of Australia and New Zealand.
Like most visitors, he was astonished
at the Australian extensions of democ-
racy and surprised at the lack of fric-
tion attendant to their working.
Mr.. Lloyd says that while the re-
mainder of the world has been talking
of reforms along certain lines, Aus
tralia has gone ahead without any fuss
and feathers and established them.
He was present in New Zealand at
hearings before magistrates when ap-
plicants for old age pensions was heard.
The rule is that citizen of good char
acter who can {show that he has lived
an active producing life, when he has
attained the age of 65 years shall re-
ceive stipend from the government
sufficient to cover the bare necessities
of support. Mr.. Lloyd also attended a
session of compulsory arbitration
court, wherein employees and employers
appear to discuss their differences. He
says that the sight was almost impress
sive, for instead of the factory locking
the men out, on the one side, or the
men being on strike, on the other, the
industry was in full operation, while
the representatives of both sides we're
submitting the issue between them
selves to the arbitrament of a disinter-
ested judge. When a decision is once
reached, it is not advisory, but binding,
and can be enforced like any other de-
cree of the court. Settlement once
reached, it cannot be disturbed for two
years, and hence great stability of bus
mess is afforded. At first New Zealand
manufacturers were bitterly opposed to
the arbitration law, but now it is gain
ing favor among them as an extremely
successful wealth. h.conserving measure.
AS yet in Australia the trusts have not
come, although tendencies in their di-
rection can be detected. If they come,
however, the people are better prepar-
ed to meet them than in America.
There practically all the railroads are
owned by the state and secret preferen-
tial rates in this country. which enable
the big fellows to crush out the little
fellows, are utterly unknown. More
over, the enorn Gus fortunes which
have been built up in America by rail-
road operations and their resultant
trusts do not exist in Australia and
wealth is not so concentrated.
The New Zealand land policy has
often been described. 1t is an appli-
cation of the Henry George single tax
principle. AT the beginning of the col
ony most of the land was distributed
in large blocks, and there was no land
to be had by the newcomers or the new
born sons and daughters. But although
the land was gone the people still re.
tanned their votes, and they used their
votes to establish q system by which
they could get the land back on fair
terms. Whenever it is judicially de-
termined that a block of land is not
being used to the best advantage for
the public, it is appraised by the gov
ernment, bought at the named purchase
lprice and then leased in perpetuity to
settlers. In most cases the owner sells
without going through the process of
condemnation. The government has
already thus invested sc, 600, 600, which,
considering that the population of the
colony is only rs. 900, is proportionately
large. The Investment has proved
profitable, for while the rents net the
government 5 per cent, the money TO
finance the undertaking has been OBJ.
tanned in London at 3 per cent. The
land is being gradually distributed
among the people. For example, Mr..
Lloyd mentions one estate which under
private ownership had a population of
twenty; it is now converted into fertile
farms, and has now at it's center q
flOurishing village and sustains popu-
lation of 1000 or more.
The farmers base ball nine played
two games here on Friday and Satur.
day against nine composed of Carroll
and Denison players. The first game
resulted in favor of the home players by
a score of to 1. On Saturday the
tables were turned and the Nebraska
team won to the tune of 8 to 8. The
attendance was light at both games
especially on Saturday. Mr.. James
Martin of Carroll made most accept.
able umpire. Rudd, Kelly, Griffin and
Branaka were the Crawford county
players in the first game and Griffin.
Branaka, Wright and Sprecher IN the
second game. About fifteen Carroll
boys were in attendance.
| The Leech.
The indicative leech is now prac-
tically thing Of the past. The falling