124 INFORMATION REI,ATING TO AGRICCI.TURAI. ECONOMY IN GENERAL 



AUSTRALIA. 



CLOSER SETTLE:VIENT. — Dalgety's Review. Sydney, July 1916. 



One very material effect of the war has been to check the subdivision 

 of large estates suitable to closer settlement. As regards New South 

 Wales, returns from the leading centres in each district show that the pro 

 cess of cutting up the larger estates has practically ceased. A few smaller 

 properties have been sold in blocks, principally to adjoining holders, but 

 the movement towards subdivision which was general a few years ago has 

 stopped for the time. A few districts report that no estates large enough 

 for subdivision are left, but generally the stoppage is ascribed to the finan- 

 cial stringency caused by the war, while in some centres the bad .season has 

 been another deterrent. The check is, of course, only temporary, and 

 with the return of normal conditions closer settlement will again become 

 important. 



In the north generally subdivision is practically at a standstill. Part 

 of the Conningdale estate in the New England district was for sale in seven 

 blocks, aggregating 5,200 acres, of which four were sold to adjoining owners. 

 A few station properties were sold right out, and a few homestead farms 

 changed hands. 



In the Warialda district there has been no subdivision, but it has been 

 decided to subdivide some of the larger properties of which a few portions 

 have already been sold privately. Holdings previously subdivided are 

 being sold piecemeal, but the business is generally slack. 



In the south the situation is practically the same, most centres report- 

 ing " nothing doing ". The Clifton estate. Young, which comprised 5,000 

 acres was divided among five buyers. Woodlyn, Beckour, was cut up 

 into four farms and sold ; and Ringambil, jMirrool, is said also to have been 

 sold for closer settlement. A few stations have sold, notably Willie Ploma, 

 Gundagai, and Talbingo, Tumut, but generally there has been little busi- 

 ness in this direction. In the Hillston district surveyors have been bus}- 

 on the proposed railway from Griffiths to Hillston. A large area is expect- 

 ed to be thrown open to closer settlement shortly and the construction 

 of this line is bound to lead to a closer settlement of the central division 

 In the west it is expected that subdivision will be resumed. 



AUSTRIA. 



AGRICULTURAL LABOUR IX DALMATIA. — Katjcky (M). Die landwiHschaftliche 

 Lohnarhcit in Dalmatien. Der Arbeitsnachweis . Vienna, Year 1916, Part. 5. 



Dalmatia, which suffers permanently from a great scarcity of labour, 

 is not only that one of aU the Austrian crown lands which is poorest in fertile 

 land, but is also that in which wages are highest. 



