South Australia, like Victoria, was seriously affected by the drought, and the wheat crop, which is so important in the State, was very light indeed, while many settlers had great trouble to avert serious losses among their live-stock. Sir Lionel Galway succeeded Sir Day Bosanquet as Governor. Mr. A. A. Kirkpatrick retired from the position of Agent-General in London after some years of successful work, and was followed in that position by Mr. F. W. Young. The Treasurer, Mr. Peake, in his Budget Speech in October, estimated a surplus of 4,000l., and indicated that should there be a deficit in consequence of the drought and the war, it need cause no concern, as there was on hand an accrued surplus from the recent good years of upwards of 1,000,000l. As in New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia, there was every indication of farmers extending their wheat areas in the ensuing year in anticipation of high prices.
Western Australia.—A general election in October resulted in Labour being again returned to office. Mr. Scaddan again became Premier, Treasurer, and Minister for Railways; Mr. Collins, Minister for Mines and Water; Mr. Joseph, Minister for Lands; Mr. Walker, Attorney-General and Minister for Education; Mr. Drew, Colonial Secretary; Mr. Angwin, Minister for Public Works; Mr. Jabez Dodd and Mr. R. H. Underwood, Honorary Ministers. Nearly 300 miles of new State-owned railways were opened for traffic in December, and at the same time there was a similar length in course of construction. In every direction the Government pursued an active policy of development works. Western Australia has an area of nearly 1,000,000 square miles, and at present the population is only a little more than 300,000. The season was against agricultural production, and the wheat crop was only a little above one-third of that of the previous year, when it reached 13,500,000 bushels. As a rule, however, Western Australia enjoys a very regular rainfall, and the settlers, undeterred by the set-back, pushed on vigorously with their clearing and other pioneering. Mr. Justice McMillan was appointed Chief Justice in succession to Sir Henry Parker, and the Very Rev. Cyril Golding Bird, Dean of Newcastle, was consecrated Bishop of Kalgoorlie.
Tasmania enjoyed a fairly good season. Substantial headway was made in production, especially in orcharding, which industry continues to thrive because of the keen demand which awaits its produce in the United Kingdom, and other parts of the Old World. There was keen political fighting, in consequence of the rival parties being almost equal in strength. The Liberals under Mr. Solomon were defeated in the Legislative Assembly by one vote in April on a No-Confidence motion by Mr. Earle, the Labour leader. Mr. Solomon asked for a dissolution, which was refused by the Governor, and he then resigned in favour of Mr. Earle, who formed a Cabinet as follows: Prime Minister and Minister for Justice, Mr. Earle; Chief Secretary and Minister for Mines and Labour, Mr. Ogden; Minister for Lands, Public Works, and Agriculture, Mr. Belton; Treasurer and Minister for Education and Railways, Mr. Lyons; Mr. Justice Nicholls became Chief Justice in succession to the late Sir John Dodds; and the Very Rev. R. Stephen, Dean of Melbourne, was consecrated Bishop of Tasmania.
Northern Territory and Papua.—Interest in the development of these two great new possessions was largely suspended on the outbreak of war. The failure of the first attempt of the Federal Government to settle the Northern Territory in small areas has not yet been succeeded by any new scheme. It is now generally recognised that there will be very little farm settlement until the country is better served with railways and marketing facilities. Towards this end railway construction was proceeded with upon a small scale, and the proposal to connect the Territory by an overland line with Southern Australia was farther advanced. It is now fairly certain that this railway will be constructed in the course of a few years. The few stock owners who now occupy the richest portions of the country with great grazing stations were favoured as usual by a good rainfall and abundant pastures. Some of these pastoralists possess from 35,000 to 70,000 head of cattle, and with meat at its present price they are enjoying excellent returns.
In Papua the proximity to German territory caused much excitement among the new planters, although between the German and the Australian settlements there lies a wide and almost impassable area, made up of mountain and tropical jungle. Considerable stretches of land were cleared and added to the area under cultivation, and a number of the settlements are now approaching the period of productivity. The Administration continued its well-established policy of dealing generously with the settlers, and kindly but firmly with the natives; indeed the colonisation of British Papua, so far as it has gone, is proving an interesting exception to most of the settlement in Australasia, inasmuch as good feeling is being maintained with the natives, while substantial headway is being made with the pioneering. The commencement of railway buildings gave a new note of civilisation to this grand tropical domain.
II. NEW ZEALAND.
Up to the outbreak of war New Zealand was passing through one of the most satisfactory years in its history. For instance, Customs returns had never been so high as during the six months which ended in June, while the Minister for Finance was able to announce a surplus of 427,000l. The overflowing Treasury encouraged the Government to grant still easier terms to new settlers, so as to bring the possession of farms within the reach of farmers' sons and industrious labourers who had accumulated savings. The construction of new railways and other public works was actively promoted. An interesting political event was the re-entry of Sir Joseph Ward into party leadership. He attempted in July to oust the Government on a No-confidence vote, but the Cabinet retained office by a fair majority. The general elections were held in December, and the new Parliament found parties equally divided, the Government having forty seats, and the same number being held by the Opposition, comprised of the Liberals and Labour members. In December, Mr. Fisher, the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth, visited the New Zealand Dominion, and conferred with the Government upon Imperial Defence, so far as it affected the two Dominions, and the question of a reciprocal commercial agreement. Mr. Fisher thought (and this opinion was heartily endorsed by the great majority of the people of New Zealand and Australia) it would be unwise to build too confidently upon a long era of peace at the conclusion of the present war. He urged that Australia and New Zealand should make it clear to the Mother Country that they were ready and determined to take up the burden of Empire Defence in their part of the world. It was quite unreasonable to expect the Mother Country, with the enemy at her gates, to devote her attention to the defence of the distant dominions, whose strength enabled them to act upon their own behalf. "The national development of Australia and New Zealand," said Mr. Fisher, "would be stimulated if they relied on their own resources by maintaining a naval force which was a direct part of the British Navy, but was under local executive control. Experience showed that local control was the best and probably the only practicable method. The day had already come when self-respect should persuade Australia and New Zealand to abandon their policy of reliance upon the British taxpayer."
New Zealand's co-operation in the war was marked by great eagerness and enthusiasm. The New Zealanders are just as British in their breeding as the people of the Mother Country itself, and their response was just as ready and whole-hearted. From every portion of the island came young volunteers of the finest physique; many of them were South African veterans, and all were excellent rifle shots and splendid natural soldiers. A few months after war was declared some 10,000 of these men had been transported to Egypt, but long before then a small flying expedition had proceeded to German Samoa, and put an end to the Kaiser's colony in that portion of the Pacific. Like the Commonwealth, the despatch of the first little army to Egypt was only the beginning of New Zealand's support. Since then many additional thousands of young men of the best quality have been enrolled at the training camps. These will be sent to the front as they are trained and required, and their numbers would gladly be quadrupled at the request of the Imperial Government. New Zealand has also given handsomely to the patriotic funds, and subscribed a large amount of money to the relief of the Belgians. Indeed, as in the South African War, the practical loyalty of this little island people could not have been exceeded.
III. POLYNESIA.
Up to the outbreak of war little occurred to mark the year in these islands. For several weeks after the beginning of August, however, there was unprecedented excitement in the various white settlements. The possibility of a visit from an enemy war vessel and the eager anticipation of a call from ships flying the Union Jack with tidings of the great campaign, kept these lonely dwellers in a state of constant unrest. Generally speaking there was no trouble with the natives, and fair headway was made in planting and in trade. Some notable instances of individual patriotism were reported in the case of young planters and others, who at great material sacrifice and the exercise of much resource, travelled many thousands of miles in order to return to England and participate in the fighting.