126 Australian Life 



unemployed of the cities contrast but poorly with 

 the unemployed of the bush, who bravely shoul- 

 der their swags and tramp off in search of the 

 work they never think of demanding from the 

 State. 



A reference has been made to borrowed moneys, 

 for it is impossible to avoid some notice of Aus- 

 tralian financial methods. The railways and 

 other public works have all been constructed with 

 money borrowed from the British investor, and 

 these loans involve the payment of a sum of more 

 than ,9,000,000 each year in interest alone. At 

 present, there is no attempt to make the railways 

 return the interest upon the money they have 

 cost to build, or any further sum that might go 

 toward repaying the principal. The policy is 

 rather adopted of working the railways for the 

 immediate benefit of the people, and for the pur- 

 pose of developing the resources of the country. 

 Each fresh enterprise means an addition to the 

 debt of the country, and it cannot be disputed that 

 the people who enjoy the convenience and cheap- 

 ness of State-owned railways in a land that is far 

 from being settled are piling up for their descend- 

 ants a heavy obligation, that must some day be 

 met. A people holding the advanced opinion that 

 no man willing and able to work should be refused 

 employment by the Government ought at least to 

 avoid the injustice of indulging in philanthropy, 

 while leaving the bill to be settled at some time 

 in the difficult future. 



