70 



THIRD ANNUAL SESSIONS 



ing for long terms. The value of land from the government in fee sim- 

 ple, runs from two dollars and a half to five dollars per acre, and 

 paj^ments can be spread over from twenty to forty years. 



"The Commonwealth has a political constitution the most democratic 

 in the world, framed by men elected especially for the purpose by the 

 people, revised by the people, and finally submitted to the people's judg- 

 ment of adoption; the people's own choice from first to last. We have a 

 frachise extended to every man and woman of good reputation and based 

 entirely on their manhood and womanhood and not on their possessions. 

 "We have school systems in each state free, compulsory and secular, but 

 with a high morality. 



"Our public services, railways, postal, telegraph, telephones, water 

 works, are owned by the people and managed by selected men free from 

 political influences. Our works have all been carried out by white labor, 

 In our Civil Service merit is the only passport to admission, and merit 

 and senority combined brings promotion, and subject to the proper per- 

 formances of duties each man or woman's position is absolutely secure 

 to the retiring age. 



Irrigation in Australia. 



"We have enormous possibilities of irrigatiton when we can get our 

 works constructed, our waters conserved, and our schemes developed. 

 And while we have to face aridity, it is not so bad as some may think, 

 for we have good seasons as well as bad in these arid and semi-arid 

 parts, and the recuperative properties of our land are such as are not 

 equalled anywhere in the world. 



"We hope to get lessons from you, both precept and example, to 

 help us to overcome our one drawback. 



"We have followed you in your Fiscal Policy and not our Mother land. 

 And you can not complain if we take your methods of industrial devel- 

 opment and treat you as you treat us. Our brother is nearer us than 

 our uncle, even if that uncle be Uncle Sam. 



"But, gentlemen, I did not come here to talk especially of Australia. 

 1 am not an immigration agent, but being asked to take up this theme 

 I have given you an idea of our people, our country, and our aspirations, 

 to which I thank you for listening. Let us apply ourselves to the work 

 before us, and setting an example of business-like dealing evoke from 

 this Congress a theory and practice, that will cover our arid places with 

 happy homes, wrought by brave, self-reliant men, with contented wives 

 by their sides, and laughing children at their knees. 



"And the word of the Seer of Old will come true to us, 'The wilder- 

 ness and the solitary places shall rejoice and blossom as the rose. It 

 shall blossom abundantly and rejoice even with joy and singing. The 

 glory of Lebanan shall be given unto it, the excellency of Caramel and 

 Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the Excellency of our 

 God." ' 



