The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-10-05
RIGHT HON. SIR GEORGE H. REID AND LADY REID.

From the far OF Antipodes. Rt Hon.
Sir George Reid, a typical appearing
English gentleman and yet a pure and
patriotic Australian, talked in a most
interesting manner of his country to The
Washington Herald yesterday. Sir George
with LADY Reid, are the recipients Of a
great deal of attention while visiting the
| United States, on their way to England.
as high commissioner for Australia
| and former Premier OF the country, he
| Is possibly the best informed man in
| the world to talk on the possibilities OF
| the vast domain by which he has been
so signally honored.
| Sir George is a self-made man. going
| through the various stages from clerk.
| barrister, to the highest position his
| constituents could confer upon him. His
Personality Is most engaging: clear-eyed.
| corpulent, with a merry twinkle when
| bringing up some "Reminiscences of his
| early days in the then almost unknown
| land. it requires no stretch of i'm
| agination to realize that he is a
power in mighty large country.
His popularity is shown by the
fact that in fifteen elections he was only
defeated once, an unparalleled record.
| Politics are the same in all countries,
! but the methods of election are different.
Australia has the Mother Country sys-
tenn. and an able man can be elected
| from any constituency, regardless OF
where he lives. Special elections are
held in Australia the same as in England
when the government is defeated.
| Now a settled Country.
my country has undergone a wonder
| full change in the past half century and
is now developing at a rapid rate" said
Sir George. Just think, in 1851 we only
| had 10000 inhabitants. In the next ten
years ii jumped to 100000 First life
there was very spectacular. Gold miners
made a strike overnight, fortunes were
created almost In minute. and almost
as promptly dissipated. Yet the gold
found its way into business channels,
remained in the country, and developed
| II. Now business is conducted in a sta
| BILE manner, industries flourish. and the
development of the vast resources of the
| country, while gradual is steady.
''One rather remarkable fact is that
| there are not to exceed four millionaires
| in Australia. of course, i mean million
aires from the pound not the dollar
standard. In all Australia there is but
| one man whose wealth is over 1900. 900.
The climate is delightful: a regular
| lotus land. No snow or ice or the ex-
ceedingly disagreeable weather SO often
| experienced in other countries.
Our working men and women are well
paid. and the eight-hcur law is general.
Business generally stops at p. m. and
| all classes get half holiday each week.
Arbitration.
I'VE have a FedeEal law to settle labor
disputes. which are classified, governing
the railway. agricultural, and domestic
workers. which was passed in my admin
| istration. Our strengthening industry is
very large. By the way, that is some
thing in which America should be greatly
interested. Owing to our mild climate the
wool is of a much finer grade than that
of colder nations, and dealers in woolens
| and wooden goods would do well in mix
ing the two grades, as the product is of
much better quality by SO doing.
New South Wales in 1900 adopted COM
| pulsory arbitration, employees and EN-
p!oyers being represented by assessors.
When they cannot agree a decision is
made by the judge, but as rule an
agreement is reached.
in Victoria there is an older system
wages boards-where six men represent
each side to the controversy. presided
over by a chairman appointed by the
government, who, in case they cannot
agree. makes the final decision. This Is
practically confined to city industries,
which are specified. but which can be
extended by act of Parliament.
Australia has naval policy. We
have one battleship. which by the way.
Lady Reid christened few months ago.
and We are building three second-class
cruisers, three destroyers, and are 60
| ing to have several submarines. In ten
years we will have a fleet of about fifty
four war vessels at cost OF S20,OcO,OOO
1T is compulsory for all males to serve
| a cadet course between the ages of II and
| 26, who must serve ten days every year
oa,,n Ratweap ages of is and 20