QUEENSLAND COUNTRY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2250, 23 July 1908, Page 2

QUEENSLAND COUNTRY.

A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION,

THE DARLING DOAVNS. [Press Association.] ./ AVELLINGTON, July 22. Opinions of Queensland as a piano for settlement by the New Zealand farmer differ much if tho remarks made by two prominent pastoralists to a. “Post” reporter are any criterion. - g ✓ One gentleman admitted the drawback of rabbits, the prickly poar, and . other pests; still there were counterbalancing advantages in the supe-. riority of the soil and the cheapness of the land. The Darling Downs were specially singled out for favorable comment.- The rainfall was fair and immense crops of lucerne could he raised, so that tho introduction of dairying was contemplated in tho • near future. Farmers had learned much by tlieir disastrous experience of droughts elsewhere, and were prepared to face any drought to come. Over-stocking was not the practice. In fact, most places kept severely, on the safe side.- Asked 'what lie considered the chief attraction to New Zealand farmers, the “Post’s”, in for- , mailt declared it to be the difference 1 in the burdens "imposed 'on tlio'land in the respective countries. As compared with New Zealand, Queensland was very lightly rated and taxed. Indeed, tenures differed.- One and the same estate might have a portion freehold,, another lease with purchasing clause, a third a- scrub lease, ,t. fourth what was known as the eighteen section lease, and so on. The rabbit pest might be met in time by the ieneing of the different runs. The other side was heard from A gentleman who-had gone to Queensland with high hopes and found them unrealised. He had seen many places hut there was too much uncertainty in the climate, and the prickly pear the rabbits, and the drought, made glad to get back to Netf Zea-