248 A HISTORY OF THE COLONY OF VICTORIA 



bring the State ledger into presentable form, and there were few 

 men in the community who were more fitted for a work of the 

 character than Mr. Service. 



It must be admitted that in the task he undertook Mr. Service 

 was greatly favoured by the special conditions of general prosperity 

 which the good seasons had brought about. There was a steady 

 inflow of population ; about 50,000 acres per annum were being 

 added to the land under cultivation, and in 1884 the colony ex- 

 ported wheat and flour to the value of 1,775,000 sterling, the 

 highest point ever touched. The prosperity of the farmer was 

 reflected in trade, wholesale and retail. In the three years ending 

 30th June, 1886, over 6,000,000 sterling had been spent in rail- 

 way construction out of loan money. There were no workers 

 compulsorily unemployed. So great was the dearth of labour that 

 many farmers under the pressure of the harvest season paid 15s. 

 and three substantial meals per day for men to cut their crops. 

 Indeed, during the first session of the Service Government over 

 thirty petitions were presented to Parliament praying for a renewal 

 of State-assisted immigration. But the various labour unions had 

 spoken with no uncertain voice on this subject, and though the 

 Legislative Council made some move towards helping the peti- 

 tioners, they elicited no response in the Assembly. In many of 

 the constituencies the seat depended so much upon the vote of the 

 idealised working man that he had to be conciliated. And it was 

 in strict keeping with his faith in protection to local industry that 

 he should do all in his power to resist the advent of those outside 

 wage-earners who sought to poach on his strictly guarded pre- 

 serves. Despite the labour difficulties, however, there was wide- 

 spread prosperity ; enhanced spending power followed increasing 

 wages. This meant increased imports, and expanding Custom- 

 house receipts, so that the general revenue which for the year 

 ending 30th June, 1883, had been 5,600,000, had risen in June, 

 1886, to 6,480,000. The credit of the colony in London soared to 

 its highest range. The 4 per cent, debentures which Sir Bryan 

 O'Loghlen had failed to sell at par in January, 1883, and for which 

 he had finally to accept about 98 10s., were sold in November, 

 1885, just prior to Mr. Service's resignation, at 107, the maximum 



