414 SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS.—E, F, 
growth and distribution of the population during those 95 years shows the powerful 
influences exerted by the undermentioned factors in the order named : 
(a) Climatic, chiefly the amount, incidence, and reliability of rainfall. 
(b) Soils, varying from the brownearths of the southern ranges to the silts of the 
river flats, the light sandy soils of the Mallee plains, and the mulga and salt-bush 
areas of the arid north. 
(c) Transport and communication, modified by climatic and other factors, ham- 
pered by the roughly East-West barrier that marks the southern margin (10” isohyet) 
of the arid area, and by the four north-south barriers that occur in the more populated 
portion: Mt. Lofty Ranges, Murray River, Spencer Gulf, and Gulf St. Vincent. 
(d) Productions, partly determined by climatic and soil conditions, and partly 
by remoteness from markets, requiring primary products that will keep well and 
repay high transport costs; in this case, mainly wheat, wool, wine, and dried fruits. 
Under the pressure of the requirements of a growing population, mainly dependent 
upon primary production, and influenced by the physiographic and climatic con- 
ditions outlined, there has been built up a unique scheme of water supply, a widespread 
railway system, a very complete series of coastal ports, and the commencement of a 
system of excellent arterial roads. The camel of the interior has given way to the 
motor car; the railways are being hard pressed by motor transport, and there is a 
slow but definite development of aerial transport. 
The progress of settlement has been: The cultivation of the fertile and well- 
watered Adelaide Plains and the valleys of the nearer ranges ; the pastoral occupation 
of the more remote areas, including the mulga and salt-bush country, wherever water 
for stock (water-holes, artesian bores, wells, rock-holes, &c.) was available ; parallel 
with this came the discovery of rich copper deposits at Kapunda, Burra, and 
Wallaroo, with consequent railway construction and the ‘opening up’ of those 
localities to agriculture; then, with the development of artificial manures, special 
wheats, and a farming technique suited to the prevailing conditions, wheat farming 
spread to the Middle North, Yorke Peninsula, the Murray Mallee, and Eyre Peninsula. 
The growth of the capital city has more than kept pace with the development of the 
country. 
Mr. Lawrence J. Burpre.—The Geography of Canada. 
An attempt, with the aid of lantern slides and a motion picture in the form of an 
animated map to put into concise and understandable form an account of the 
geography of the Dominion from Halifax to Victoria. The animated map illustrates 
more specifically the history of discovery, the contributions of each explorer being 
added until the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic coasts are complete as well as the physical 
features of the interior. 
SECTION F. 
ECONOMIC SCIENCE AND STATISTICS. 
Thursday, September 24. 
Mr. R. R. Enrretp.—The World’s Wheat Situation. 
The chief changes in distribution of the wheat area as compared with pre-war 
years. The redistribution of international trade in wheat and flour. The course of 
wheat prices in the post-war period ; the deviation in the movement of wheat prices 
from the movement of wholesale prices; the factors contributing to the heavy fall 
in wheat prices in 1930-1931. 
The post-war trend in production and acreage. Developments in the principal 
countries. The special position of Russia. The accumulation of stocks. 
Summary of the short term factors influencing the present depression of wheat 
prices. 
The long term factors. The trend of wheat prices in relation to wholesale prices 
since the middle of the nineteenth century. Some of the contributing causes of the 
gradual fall in wheat prices in comparison with wholesale prices. Progress in 
Ee 
