OUR SYDNEY LETTER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3273, 19 July 1911, Page 8

OUR SYDNEY LETTER.

THE LANDMARK

[FROM Qua SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

SYDNEY, July 5. Tlie question, “ What is the landmark between Victoria and New South Wales?” is raised by the claim of the southern l State to the rich province of ■ Riverina. The original dispute is of old Standing. It commenced when the separation of tire .'two colonies took place in 1850; when this State claimed the right to levy customs duties on the cargoes of alll vessels trading on the Murray river.' In order to i>lace the question finally at rest, an Imperial Act was passed five years later, defining the boundary between the two States, and in this measure it was specified that “the whole watercourse of the river Murray, from its source to the eastern boundary of South Australia” is within the territory of New South Wales. That the river which is now known as the Murray was the river mentioned appears pretty plain from the fact that, from that day to this, 57 years, the territory north of the Murray has remained within the jurisdiction of this State. The district ‘known as Riverina lies north of, tlie Muray and between that river and one of its most important tributaries, the Murrumbidgee. The Victorian claim is that the river is only properly known as “the Murray” below the junction of the two rivers; that the river now known as the Murray above that junction is properly the Hume; and that the expression, “the source of the Murray,” . means in reality, the source of the Murrumbidgee, in which case, of course, Riverina, which lies between two streams, would belong to Victoria. It seems incredible that an error of ! such magnitude could have* escaped de- ' teetion at the time the separation took ! place, especially as feeling seems to have been running pretty high. The question hag been raised from time to time, but counsel have always come to the conclusion that there is nothing in it. It is now' revived because tlie N.S.W. i Government, in the confidingness of its heart, lent to the Victorian Government certain ancient papers in order to assist it in the lawsuit between their State and South Australia on another boundary question. Among these papers was found a communication from Sir Thomas Mitchell, who had 'been Sui-veyor-General of tlie State, in which lie said that the boundary had been wrongly delimited, and that it-should have been drawn from the source of the Mnrrumbidgee, as now claimed by the south'c m State. Whether this opinion of Sir Thomas is to override the deliberate decision of all the responsible statesmen of that time is the question to be decided by the High Court. Whatever happens, it is pretty clear that the lawyers are not likely to be short of work. WHAT IS LOYALTY?

In view of the assertion vehemently made from time to time that the State Government, which is the creation of the Political Labor Leagues, is not a “class” Government, it is interesting to note that Mr Holman and some of his colleagues are being vehemently accused of “disloyalty’ by many of these leagues, because they declined to advocate the violent attack wliicli was made on the rights of the States by Mr W. M. Hughes and the dominant party in the Federal Parliament. Mr Holman and his friends' believe that the sweeping and revolutionary change then proposed would be injurious, both to the States and to the Commonwealth. Loyalty to Australia therefore demanded that they should oppose them with as much vigor and effectiveness as they could command. It is claimed that loyalty to the leagues demanded that they should support the Federal Labor Party, whether they thought it right or wrong. Thus, by the P.L.L.’s, it is plainly assumed that the loyalty of Ministers and members of Parliament is due to a class, that is to say, to the leagues, and not to Australia as a whole. If this is not “class fanaticism in its worst form, what is it? Thisi is the issue, .as it inesents itself to the ordinary, citizen, and the outcome of the dispute is awaited with much interest. It is to be hoped that a clear and definite answer to the important question, What is loyalty ? will be evolved from the clash of opinions. POLO. One of the attractions of the last few days lias been furnished by the polo matches, now concluded. Teams came from several districts, and many admirers of the adventurous pastime came with them to witness the prowess of their champions. The play itself was very creditable for-., men who do not make polo their main business in life, and whose ponies; in many cases, were suffering from lack of practice and training. If bloodletting is salutary, some of the poor little quadrupeds ought not to suffer from - any of the ills that flesh is heir to for a long time to come, for they got a great doing from the spurs of their eager and impatient riders. After a series of exciting contests, the Countess of Dudley Cup fell to a Muswellbrook team, who wrested the honor from 1 Narromine, who had won it twice in succession, and who were expected to make it their own as the result of the matches now concluded CURTAILING RACING.

It is expected, in some quarters, that the inquiry which is to be instituted into the relations of the Australian Jockey Club with racing generally will be made use of, if possible, with the view of investing the Government wiith some of the powers which at present (with the consent of all concerned) are wielded by the club. Advocates of Government intervention are fortified in their attitude by the action which has been taken in New Zealand, where some of the leading clubs have had to submit to the curtailment of their racing days, and some have been struck off the list altogether. That some regulating authority is required is generally conceded, and it is doubted whether voluntary organisations can govern with sufficient firmness. The great dangers of Government supervision, on the other hand, are nerfunctoriness and mere routine adminstration. That which is best administered is best, so that in the long run everything depends on the administrator. Whether the best administrators are likely to come from • the ranks of lover's of the sport, or from those of the politicians; is the question to be answered. RUGBY UNION. In the Rugby Union, game the principal has been the defeat of. the Bydnev, University team by the visitors from file N.Z. Universities. Our men did as well as they knew how, but they were a relatively weak side, whilst their opponents, both as to individual merit and excellence of. combination, were a strong .one. At the commencement of the game the play of the. N.Z. backs was somewhat severely criticised, but they improved later. Our men seemed to, suffer from lack of decision', and this, in its turn, appeared to be traceable to weakness in the leadership. The return match is to be played to-day. It

rained heavily this morning, but tho rain has now (noon) ceased. THE SHEEP SALES. /

The sheep sales now proceeding give further evidence of tlie, growing popularity of the plain-bodied type of ram. Fears are expressed lest the quality, of our merino wool, -in which tins State stands pre-eminent, should suffer. But any tendency ’in that direction may be i expected to cure itself. If merino of the required fineness becomes scarce, it will also become dear, and it will become more profitable to revert to that type than to proceed on other lines. The present movement appears to be based on actual returns, which do not always command the respect to which they are entitled. So far the top piice, 700 guineas, has been paid for a ram from Hadon Rig. The Wanganella rams also elicited brisk competition;, bringing up to 400 guineas. South Australian sheepmen were strongly in evidence, and some of the best lots fell to their bids. South Africa is also a buyer. Altogether, for rams of good frame and fleece, showing the desired quality, competition is brisk, and results ought to: be satisfacory to successful breeders. In the heavy classes no 6uch prices as were: obtained for merinos were realised. Demand, however, is more active than was the case last year, and clearances of all desirable lots appear to be readily effected.- N.Z. shippers Aver© unfortunate in lesing a number of their sheep during the run across the Tasman Sea. Many, indeed, succumbed after landing. The prominent feature of the production of wool in •this State is the breaking up of the big flocks and the increase in the number of small holdings. Few of the proprietors of the latter have either ,the means or the inclination to go to any large expenditure' for breeding purposes, and to many of them the heaA r y “crosses” which can be bred at a comparatively low cost, promise to be more profitable than tlie “pure merino.” So long as this is the cuss the demand for Leicesters, Lincolns, Shropshires and the rest, is not likely to show any diminution. SHORTAGE OF LABOR.

In a new country, with magnificent opportunities, and less than one tarnily to the square mile ,it ought to -be quite unnecessary to ask Avhether ail influx, of fresh labor and capital Avould not be eminently advantageous. Even if there were a temporary depression, on general principles the advisableness of increasing the effective population would still strongly assert itself The inquiry which is proceeding Avith the view of ascertaining Avhether more labor Avould bo desirable seems at first sight about as sensible as an inquiry Avhether the sun shines, or whether the waste places will people tliemseKes. It has been productive, hoAvever, of one good result. It has shamed many prominent Labor men out of the barefaced assertion that there is no scarcity of Avorkmen, and they are uoav, Avith politic adroitness, making capital out of the fact. Labor rule, they say, has inspired so much confidence among employers that the demand for labor has increased phenomenally. Hence the scarcity-'which is oomplained of. If the Labor Government Avill take the stem to supply the deficiency thus, admitted, by initiating a vigorous system of immigration, it avill not be necessary to enter into a. dispute regarding its cause. Present indications however, are that- the abnormal demand Avill very shortly subside, for want of men to "keep the industries up to the present pitch of activity. . Possibly there may then be an inquiry as to Avhether it is not desirable to get nd of surplus labor by emigration, instead of immigration'.