AUSTRALIA 39 



surface waters, and the multiplication of artesian bores are 

 Governmental activities calling for prompt attention as being 

 among the means of giving much-needed vitality to the live stock 

 industry. There is also a distinct call for an educational cam- 

 paign, more particularly among small settlers, concerning the 

 advantages of keeping stock, the best breeds for given localities, 

 and the profits to be derived from feeding and sheltering stock. 

 The various agricultural departments are singularly weak on 

 the stock side, and little or nothing is being done in an educa- 

 tional way to conduct experiments or carry conviction to the 

 stockowner. 



Restore confidence among the men engaged in the industry, 

 and those who would willingly enter the business, and there will 

 be no hesitation in even rivalling the purchases of breeders in 

 the Argentine of high-class stud cattle in England, and the intro- 

 duction of strains that ^^all improve sheep on the meat side. It 

 was the studbreeder who added several pounds of wool per 

 fleece and produced a wool of unequalled quality, and the same 

 skill is available and waiting to be utilised on the meat side. 

 That there is the same pioneer spirit of adventure and poAver 

 •of endurance available to make conquests in remote parts of 

 Australia has been proved beyond all doubt by young Austra- 

 lians in the great war. Given the opportunity, they will prove 

 worthy sons of the men who have made Australia. The stuff 

 of which pioneers were made is still with us. 



In the matter of taxation it must be admitted that a Federal 

 graduated lancl and income tax on the top of State and local 

 imposts represents a crushing burden to those engaged in wool- 

 growing and meat-raising. Specific cases have been given to 

 me where two-thirds of income goes in taxation ! It has taken 

 the whole of the wool clip of one pastoralist for two years in 

 succession to meet the demands of the tax collector, and stock 

 had to be sold to meet working expenses. One correspondent 

 writes: — "Leaseholders are now taxed as well as the freeholders, 

 and the extraordinary assessments put on leaseholds is reducing 

 their values enormously. One leasehold of 248 miles. 120 miles 

 from a railway, was assessed at the commencement of a 42 years' 

 lease at £10,000 unimproved value. It should not have been 

 worth £1000 ; yet with 29 years to run, it has been assessed at 

 £7790. Four years ago, £12,000 was given for it, ^Wth 8000 

 sheep and nearly £5000 of improvements ; £3000 worth more of 

 improvements were put on before the assessment. Such assess- 

 ments will make men hesitate to take up leaseholds. Men will 



