The Washington times., 1905-08-29
AUSTRALIAN VISITOR
PRAISES AMERICA
Member of Parliament
Guest in Washington.
IN SEARCH OF INFORMATION
Delving Into Subject of Irrigation.
Gives Account of Political Con-
ditions at Home.

This is jolly country, and the Of
fcials of the Government with whom
I've had the pleasure Of coming in con-
tact in my search for information and
data on the subject OF irrigation, have
treated me with great consideration.
They have shown me every kindness
and courtesy"
Thus said the Hon. James Ii. McColl,
member for Echuca, Victoria. In the
commonwealth parliament of Australia,
to Times reporter. Mr. McCoIl has
been here since last Thursday and since
then his time has been taken up with
officials of the Agricultural Department,
the Geological Survey. and the Weathtr
Bureau, discussing the question of irri-
CATION, in which he Is deeply interested.
1t was this subject that brought him to
this city.
The district represented by Mr.. Nc
Coll, includes aIruest all the irrisa ton
In Victoria. "Of course" said ne. I'VE
have facilities for irrigation. Up to the
extent OF the water available. there Is
no place in the world where the general
conditions and disposition of the land
rs more favorable for conservation OF
NJ Mars6 ana gravity IRRIGATION than in
New South Wales. But improvements
can be made and the United States Is
uoing great work in this line, and I
wan. Australia to have the advantage
oI tne newest and freshest improve
ments. l viii leave tomorrow for the
west where the work Of reclaiminc the
d1sd ~ iands Is now In progress, and your
s'afs snrs 81 IN, neve generously given me let
stLs ot introduction to State officials and
otners who are immediately Connected
WIN the active work Of irrigation"
Twenty Years in Parliament.
Mr.. McCou has been twenty years a
member or parliament. From 1856 to 1900
ne was a member of the house of the
victorian parliament, and in 1900. when
iederation was accomplished. he was
Erected 10 represent the same district
IN the commonwealth parliament Of
Australia.
You know. since 1905 we have had
universal suffrage, that is. the women
can vote. and, he continued, last year
one stood for the senate. No. she was
not elected. The idea is little new.
and the people have not been thorough
iy educated up 10 it, But the time
viii come. in my opinion, when the
women will be elected 20 the house and
70 the senate. They have and can con-
troll many votes. and it's the voter that
tells the story
Speaking of the railway systems
which are operated by the government
he said:
In each state they are nearly all
sGVernment services Public opinion in
Australia has always been against in
trusting railway transportation to pri-
vate persons. Each state manages its
own, and there is an the commonwealth
construction Is still going on. The total
cost OF the lines and all equipment is
Sl5Z.ocooo, or about c9.7e0 per mile
New Zealand has. in addition, 2,32s
miles. which cost e21, ,0o0, 600
Invested in Railways.
About 80 per cent of the public debt
OF Australia is invested in the rail-
ways Having an enormous country to
develop. the strictly commercial view
of management could not always be ad-
hered 10, but they are now returning a
net interest OF 3.0s per cent in the COM
monweaith and 3.5s per cent in New
Zealand. In Victoria the net loss was
for 1891, 0.35 per cent. and the aver
age for all states is Oe2 per cent
Against this you must set the develop
mental work going on. The working
expenses are 81 pence per train mile
each, as against 55.1 pence in Canada.
In Victoria the rates for wheat are.
1.-S
5.1 pence The latter IS about our
largest haulago.
At one time. Mr.. Mccall said. po-
litical influence was felt in the man
agement OF the roads. but that is now
past. The management is intrusted to
board of commissioners. the ministry
being purely a political head. but not
allowed 10 interfere. The government
indicates the policy, but full statutory
powers of management are given 10 the
commissioners.
IF IL Is desired" he said. for a de-
velopmental lesson To give conces-
SION AZ a loss, the amount of the loss
must be put on the estimates of the
government ana credited 10 the rail-
way department.
John 'I3it. ~ho was an officer of the
Canadian Pacific is row The chief com
missioner IN Victoria and last year had
reduced a heavy deficit for many years
past to practically making income and
expenditure dnc!uding INTEREST," balance
He has done very good work"
Civil Service in Australia.
Civil service controls IN the matter Of
government positions i'm Australia. Mr.
McColl said. man entering AT the
bottom and working his way up, his
promotion being governed by merit A
special man or expert who cannot be
obtained in the service can. he said. be
appointed from the outside. A man 5
poa-Alci u secure 50 long as he BEHAVE
himself. Political influence Is OF no
avail in the civil service because Mr.
McColl said. il Is barred by statue
The minister himself OF any depart
ment. said Mr. McCou. can make no
appointmeht nor. give the smallest IN
Mr.. MGCoE is making tour Of the
world For the Hrst time In thirty five
years Re hos visited his mother country,
Great Bfitain- where ne has relatives.
England. he said was as beautiful as
ever, While there have been enormous
developments IN th.rty-five years" said
Mr. DcCo1. Il cannot say that general
conditions were satisfactory. With an
enormous accumulation OF wealth. 1
saw more 5qralid poverty and distress
than in any other place I've visited
Taxation Is extremely heavy. and the
number of unemployed throughout
Britain IS appalling
DEATH RECORD.
Abel. Mary M. 20. -0j sfh st se
Armstrong. Charles H.. &C. Garfield UospitaI
Baker. Charles II, 80. The Olympia
Bland. Susie, 90. Freedman's HOSPITAL
coates. Martha. 2G. Freedman's HospltsI
EE