60 fip:ld work of division of agrostology. 



grazing- i.s the chief industry. The conditions that prevail are in many 

 respects similar to those obtaining throughout portions of our semi- 

 arid West. During the early settlement and development of the Aus- 

 tralian colonies attempts were made to restrict the occupation of the 

 country to (certain areas adjoining the coast settlements. As the pop- 

 ulation increased, however, and the development of the stock industry' 

 ])egan, there was a gradual pushing be3'ond these ))oundaries into the 

 vast interior. As the government at this time had made no provision 

 for granting right or title to these lands, the pioneer stockmen, who 

 were the first to occup}- the country, were termed "squatters.'^ Soon 

 after the occupation of the grazing lands b}^ squatters, difficulties arose 

 similar to those which at present confront us. The govermuent, how- 

 ever, began to devise means for disposing of these lands. The laws, 

 however, were at first based upon an insufficient knowledge of the 

 coimtry and its requirements and did not always produce the desired 

 results. At first in New South Wales plans were made for selling the 

 land at a nominal figure. This was soon stopped, however, as the 

 demand for land became so great and the alienation of large areas of 

 the most valuable tracts was so rapid and led to so many troubles that 

 th(^ plan was abandoned. Selling lands at auction was also tried. 

 These schemes prov^ed unpopular and unsuccessful, largely because the 

 land had not been properly classified. Later, various plans for renting 

 the o-razing lands were tried. Their first efforts along this line were 

 not always successful, and frequently led to fraud and injustice. While 

 they do not yet claim to have secured an entireh' satisfactory arrange- 

 ment, still the present method is far superior to no method, and the 

 experiments and experiences which they have had may be of great 

 value to us. The grazing lands are rented at present in areas ranging 

 from 2,560 to 10,240 acres for a period of fifteen years. The tenant 

 is ol>liged to make improvements, such as fences or some other equiv- 

 alent. At the expiration of this lease an extension may 1)e granted if 

 it is considered l)v the land board that the range has l)een benefited bv 

 the occupation. The rents are appraised by local land boards ever}' 

 five vesii's. Preference is given actual residents in the lease of areas 

 lying near their property. Land of inferior character may be leased 

 at auction. 



In Victoria a plan of licensing the grazing of stock at a certain rate 

 per head was tried. This, however, did not prove satisfactory, and 

 later the plan was changed and provision made for renting the range 

 lands, according to their estimated value based upon their carrying 

 capacity, computed at the rate of Sd. per annum for sheep and 2s. per 

 head for cattle. Tracts as at present leased vary in size from 7,500 to 

 40,000 acres. No person is allowed to hold more than one ti'act. If 

 more than one application is made for renting the land, it is put up at 

 auction. No lessee is allowed to assipii or transfer his lease without 



