WHEATGROWING IN AUSTRALIA. 43 



often associated with the employment of labour on a large scale, 

 while he has not to embark a large sum of money in working plant. 



In connection with a system such as this the evidence of an 

 unbiassed, independent outside body is, perhaps, more convincing 

 than anything else. It is available. 



In 1910 Australia was visited by the Scottish Agricultural 

 Commission, a body of practical men from Scotland, who investi- 

 gated rural conditions in the Commonwealth. The Commission 

 toured the Commonwealth, visiting different wheat districts, and 

 came into direct touch with local conditions. They paid great 

 attention to the share farming, as its possibilities could not fail 

 to impress them, and in their report on " Australia : Its Land, Con- 

 ditions, and Prospects," they had the following to say : 



" After a year or two the newcomer finds himself ready for 

 a start on his own account. If he possessed a few hundred pounds 

 when he landed, he will now seek to become his own landlord in 

 one or other of the ways open to him. If, however, he has yet too 

 little money for that, he will be well advised to take no risks, but 

 to be content meantime either with renting a farm or with farming 

 on the share system. A man who is intelligent and industrious, 

 who has had sufficient experience of farming in Australia, but who 

 has not enough money to buy land, cannot do better than turn his 

 attention to farming on shares. 



" He can take up wheatfarming . . . and if he has a good 

 reputation, he will find no difficulty in getting on shares the kind 

 of farm he wants." 



HOW THE SETTLER IS ASSISTED. 



The different Australian States fully recognise the great value 

 to the community of the farmer, and special steps are taken to 

 assist him in different ways. 



Financial assistance is rendered through agricultural banks in 

 West Australia and Queensland, the Credit Foncier in Victoria, and 

 State Banks in New South Wales and South Australia. Through 

 these Government institutions advances are made to settlers. Full 

 particulars in this regard are furnished in another booklet, obtain- 

 able by intending settlers. 



In Australia all the railways are State-owned, and the en- 

 deavour is to carry farm produce and farming implements, fer- 



