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TH E BULLETIN
Fix this textVol. 5. —No. 53.
Fix this textSYDNEY, SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 1881.
Fix this textPrice—3d.
Fix this text§ulletitL
Fix this textSATURDAY. JANUARY 29, 1881,
Fix this textOur Land Legislation.
Fix this textWhispers being abroad that the growing
Fix this textagitation as to land tenure is about to have its
Fix this texteffect in more distinct legislation, it will be
Fix this textinteresting to some of our readers to hear the
Fix this textquestion from a workman’s, instead of a capi-
Fix this texttalist’s view, although in putting svch a view
Fix this textforward it may be necessary to draw conclusions
Fix this textcontrary to general theory, contrasting the
Fix this textbenefits with the disadvantages of the working
Fix this textclasses in the prosecution of such pursuits as lead
Fix this textto the realization of the interest which squatting
Fix this textcapitalists naturally and reasonably expect from
Fix this texttheir investments. Emigration has for years past
Fix this textbeen, and for years to come will be, one of the
Fix this textgreat Governmental questions of the colonies.
Fix this textWith thousands of acres of what may well be
Fix this textcalled unused land at disposal, the problem of
Fix this texttheir appropriation to the best use comes as a
Fix this textnatural sequence. Many politicians have _ a
Fix this textUtopian view of all the vast areas of the interior
Fix this textcountry being laid out in model farms, which shall
Fix this textreturn a regular revenue in annual rents, or in
Fix this textinterest upon payments reserved. Consequently,
Fix this texta periodical cry arises to the effect that we should
Fix this textemploy only our resident mechanics and artisans
Fix this textfor such works as they are educated to prosecute,
Fix this textbut import labor from the Old World to farm and
Fix this texttill our lands. Let any one go forth and see the
Fix this textlands, not crowned with the natural growth and
Fix this textwealth of herbage under the influence of an
Fix this textunusually good season, not under the forced
Fix this textvegetation of an exceptional spring, but parched
Fix this textand burnt out from the fierce rays of the semi-
Fix this texttropical sun of an ordinary summer, destitute of
Fix this textthe power to bring forth even the hardiest of its
Fix this textnatural grasses for want of moisture. Let any
Fix this textone go forth and see the country under such
Fix this textcircumstances, and say whether the most skilled
Fix this textlabor, whether the very greatest of experience,
Fix this textwhether anything but the most stolid endurance,
Fix this textand that god of all earthly powers —Capital—can
Fix this textdo aught but fail in agriculture in any but the
Fix this textmost favored spots of the interior of Australia.
Fix this textIs it possible for any but a capitalist to succeed in
Fix this textfarming when the scene of his labors is hundreds
Fix this textof miles from any market, where, even if he wills
Fix this textto consume the very grain he grows himself, it
Fix this textbecomes a loss, since he can get its produce
Fix this textcheaper than he can mill the substance and pay
Fix this textits carriage ? Let any one of the many hundreds
Fix this textadvocating the system of importing farm labor for
Fix this textthis purpose look at the natural face of the
Fix this textinterior of the country of the colonies generally,
Fix this textmark its few watercourses and the certain,
Fix this textthough irregular visitations of drought, and
Fix this textsay whether such a country is one to which
Fix this textfarming laborers should be invited to sink their
Fix this textlabor or their lives in its manipulation.
Fix this textThe working of the lands of this fair country must
Fix this textfor a time rest with those who are born or enured
Fix this textto its exigencies. Ingenuity, perseverauce, endur-
Fix this textance, and, above all, bushcraft, are indispensable
Fix this textattributes to such as ever hope to make even a
Fix this textsustenance from bush farming, much more to those
Fix this textwho seek to gather wealth from its resources ;
Fix this textand, consequently, those English farmers who
Fix this textcome to pursue their avocation in Australia, how-
Fix this textever skilful in the working of home lands, must
Fix this texthere pass through the initiatory process of a fresh
Fix this textagricultural education, being for the first few years
Fix this textthe veriest new-chums. Of course it may be said
Fix this textthat this can only apply to those who project
Fix this texttaking to themselves the untilled and raw land.
Fix this textIn many parts of this colony we find farms which
Fix this textmight already be mistaken for English homesteads.
Fix this textIn many of the mountainous districts, we find a
Fix this textclimate similar to that of the old country, pro-
Fix this textducing English fruits and grasses; and here we
Fix this textfind English farmers, —but if we seek from them
Fix this texttheir early history, we find that these do not
Fix this textbelong to the class who emigrate under the
Fix this textpresent system. For so long as we have assisted
Fix this textemigration by deposit and nomination, so long
Fix this textshall we have a class of people sent to us at our
Fix this textexpense, either to join friends or relations from
Fix this textwhom they have been separated by adverse cir-
Fix this textcumstances, or those who, unsettled in their home
Fix this textlives, are little likely to make good domesticated
Fix this textcolonists. If immigration can bring to us men
Fix this textwith even small capital, who will invest it in
Fix this textprofitable speculations, then let us by all means
Fix this texthave them ; but it is worse than useless to bring
Fix this textworkmen who must be temporarily out of place,
Fix this textfrom inexperience of colonial habits, to a labour
Fix this textmarket already overstocked and impecunious.
Fix this textI ears hence, when artificial means are brought to
Fix this text°® ar —when irrigation is a difficulty overcome —
Fix this textwhen cheap transit is a matter properly in hand—
Fix this textthe broad extent and wealth of Australia will be
Fix this textm the hands of the people; but, until then, the
Fix this textwresting of wealth from its securely-kept treasuries
Fix this textby farming of the greater part of Australian lands
Fix this textis a secret only to be disclosed by the key of capital.
Fix this textIs such a country—and let anyone who speaks from
Fix this textpractical experience say whether this is not a true
Fix this textpicture—one to which agricultural labourers should
Fix this textbe asked to come ? Are they men in any way fitted
Fix this textto undergo the necessities and hardships of open-
Fix this texting bush lands? If any man, used only to town
Fix this textlife, be placed in the bush to find his way for even
Fix this textone day’s journey, will all his business skill, his
Fix this texttact or policy, aid him one whit in arriving at his
Fix this textdestination? So with British farmers, however
Fix this textwell they may be able to milk the land to its last
Fix this textdrop of nourishment —however they may use it,
Fix this textand yet, by judicious alternation of crops or other
Fix this textmanagement, renew it to its pristine strength—
Fix this texthere, before such knowledge becomes available,
Fix this textthey must undergo that period of tuition which the
Fix this textyoungest jackeroo must serve ere one of them, ex-
Fix this textcept perhaps by an exceptional slice of luck, may
Fix this textearn more than his salt by farming pure and simple.
Fix this textWhat then, in the face of such difficulties of
Fix this textdrought and flood as any five years’ bush resident
Fix this texthas seen—what then is the best purpose to which
Fix this textthe lands may be devoted ? There are immense
Fix this texttracts of country throughout the interior of Aus-
Fix this texttralia which seem as if specially framed by nature
Fix this textfor pastoral purposes. We journey from the
Fix this textLower Macquarie to the Warrego, even to the
Fix this textBulla and Cooper’s Creek itself, and with the ex-
Fix this textception of odd hummocks, the biggest of which is
Fix this textMount Oxley, near Bourke, we travel over country
Fix this textas level as a billiard table, and for the most part
Fix this textas salt as brine. What use has such land, as yet,
Fix this textto the agriculturist ? What market is there for
Fix this texthis produce ? What certainty for his crops ? And
Fix this textyet to the grazier are there not mints of money
Fix this textannually derived from the stock that it supports ?
Fix this textAre these not interests to be protected and divided
Fix this textby the Legislature ? Are they not so separate as
Fix this textto claim special and distinct consideration ? Yet
Fix this textby that great mystery, the Lands Act, they are so
Fix this textregarded that the Hon is always liable to the
Fix this textgnawings of the mouse: the squatter is ever chary
Fix this textof a selector’s visit. It must be patent to the
Fix this textmost superficial observer that it is better for the
Fix this textState that ten acres of suitable land should be in
Fix this textthe hands of an agriculturist, if capable of
Fix this textprofitable use, than that one should remain in the
Fix this texthands of the grazier; but surely where that
Fix this textone acre pays a fair income to its tenant it would
Fix this textbe better that he were sure of his tenancy and
Fix this textpaid to the State a fair rental rather than the
Fix this textmiserable annual farthing that the Government
Fix this textderives at present. Could not agricultural areas
Fix this textbe limited to the centres of the country popula-
Fix this texttion ? If a district is wealthy enough to support
Fix this texta township of a thousand inhabitants, or even less,
Fix this textthen the mere fact of the residence of those in-
Fix this texthabitants creates a market, and the alienation of
Fix this textthe surrounding lands into the hands of small
Fix this textholders can only be productive of still greater
Fix this textbenefit to the township, while as the town extends
Fix this textthe surrounding lands become more valuable and
Fix this textextend the market still further. Is not a
Fix this textgeneral principle of this nature a far more sound
Fix this textand equitable basis upon which to ground the
Fix this textalienation of the public lands than that those
Fix this textmen who as Crown lessees have paid for a number
Fix this textof years their annual rents, have sunk their capi-
Fix this texttal in improvement of their leasehold lands (of
Fix this textwhich eventually, though indirectly, the Crown
Fix this textreaps the benefit) should in the end be deprived of
Fix this textall the profits of their long years of labor and
Fix this texttheir capital to benefit at the best some specula-
Fix this texttive farmer, or more often some gentleman who,
Fix this textwith twenty pounds at his command, thinks to
Fix this texttreble it by imposition on the Crown and its
Fix this textlessee. A story was current of one family who
Fix this textwere so used to the moving consequent on this
Fix this text“buying out” speculation, that even their fowls
Fix this textat a given whistle would turn over on their backs
Fix this textand put up their legs to be tied. These are some
Fix this textof the abuses that have sprung into existence
Fix this textthrough unwise legislation, but of far greater
Fix this textimportance is the effect as yet of late birth, and
Fix this textbut lightly felt, but which will be an old
Fix this textman of the sea to Australia in futurity.
Fix this textAs a natural sequence to the uncertainty of tenure
Fix this textgiven to the Crown lessees comes the gradual ten-
Fix this textdency that has now become only too prevalent
Fix this textamong the squatting classes. Formerly they were
Fix this textregarded as semi-princes—men who, though land-
Fix this textlords to a vast extent, yet held their interests as
Fix this textco-extensive with those of the labouring section
Fix this textof the community. Now this feeling is generally
Fix this textdead, and the old enmity between capital and
Fix this textlabour causes the same malignancy between the
Fix this textclasses as is observable amongst the most strin-
Fix this textgent supporters of classdom in Irish legislation of
Fix this textthe present day. In a community so widely dis-
Fix this textpersed as is that of the bush, there can hardly be
Fix this texta greater curse than this same diversity of opinion
Fix this textand interest. Where one set or faction is at the
Fix this textmercy of another —nay, more: where man is
Fix this textalmost dependent on his fellow man for subsis-
Fix this texttence —there can be no greater drawback to the
Fix this textgeneral welfare than that the servant should be
Fix this textopposed to the master—employed against em-
Fix this textployer. Unanimity of spirit and of interest is the
Fix this textonly safeguard that an employer has in the pro-
Fix this textsecution of his industries, which in its turn con-
Fix this texttribute toward the maintenance of the working
Fix this textpopulation. The ill-feeling rife between selector
Fix this textand squatter has already been of great detriment
Fix this textto the progress of the country; and it is a feel-
Fix this texting that cannot be alleviated, since, under present
Fix this textlegislation, the selector cannot be other-wise that
Fix this texta legal, though inequitable, aggressor, upon the
Fix this textrights of the grazier. A very tangible evil of this
Fix this textill-advised administration is that the squatter,
Fix this textfeeling that his rights are no longer protected by the
Fix this textGovernment, uses those very means afforded to
Fix this textthe selector to secure his land with or without the
Fix this textsanction of the law. Since the birth of the Act,
Fix this textthe general study has been its evasion. So class
Fix this texthas been pitted against class, each trying to
Fix this textremedy its rights by committing greater wrongs.
Fix this textIt may be said that this does not affect the actual
Fix this textlabourer, and yet in reality he feels its ill effects as
Fix this textwell as his employer. Selectors, when they
Fix this textlive from hand to mouth, make the worst task-
Fix this textmasters and the poorest payers ; while amongst
Fix this textthe squatters the old system of liberality has dis-
Fix this textappeared, making room for the now universal
Fix this textprinciple of “ grab-all,” which takes its place.
Fix this textThe Hon. Sir John Hay, E.C.M.G.
Fix this textIf the history of the old Legislative Council
Fix this textshould ever be impartially written, it will be
Fix this textfound that there are amongst its members men of
Fix this textgreat ability and true refinement of manners. It
Fix this textis impossible to go back in imagination to the
Fix this textconstellation of “ bright particular stars,” amongst
Fix this textwhich William Charles Wentworth, Robert Lowe,
Fix this textDr. Bland, Deas-Thomson, Dr. Lang, and many
Fix this textother historical individuals shone conspicuously,
Fix this textwithout feeling impressed with their high character
Fix this textas the ruling spirit of a legislative body. The
Fix this textinauguration of Responsible Government was
Fix this textfollowed by the return of men to Parliament who,
Fix this textif more thoroughly representative of the opinions
Fix this textand aspirations of the colony, belonged to a less
Fix this textcultured class than their predecessors in the first
Fix this textelective Council. The new men—the outcome of
Fix this textthe first general election under the Electoral
Fix this textReform Act —soon showed, with a few significant
Fix this textexceptions, that they confounded the meaning and
Fix this textthe mischief of churlishness and vulgarity, and
Fix this texttook them to signify bravado and independence
Fix this textinstead of their real signification. The most
Fix this textradical democrats in the colony would not like to
Fix this textsee the House of Assembly degenerate into a
Fix this textmenagerie, and for some years it had never been
Fix this textdisgraced by ignominious scenes. While gentlemen
Fix this textconstituted the majority of the “ collective
Fix this textwisdom,” a high tone characterised the social
Fix this textintercourse of honorable members, and pervaded
Fix this texttheir deliberations. Any country might be proud
Fix this textof such men—taking them all in all—as Donaldson,
Fix this textParker, Cowper, Murray, Martin, Macleay, Lang,
Fix this textDailey, William Macarthur, and the veteran
Fix this textknights, Robertson and Parkes, who have
Fix this textsurvived so many of their contemporaries, out-
Fix this textlived their own mutual hatreds, and are now
Fix this textdevoted heart and soul, as sworn Ministexial
Fix this textbrothers, to the service of the country and their
Fix this textown interests. Of all the men who have figured
Fix this textconspicuously on the floor of the Legislative
Fix this textChambers, not one has ever emerged from the
Fix this textordeal with a brighter reputation than Sir John
Fix this textHay, now President of the Legislative Council,
Fix this textwhose finely-cut facial lineaments will be easily
Fix this textrecognised in our issue of to-day. Though firm
Fix this textas a rock whenever a matter of principle was
Fix this textevolved in debate, and canny as a good Scotsman
Fix this textshould be when prudence was required to
Fix this textregulate party tactics, he never deliberately, in
Fix this textword or deed, offended any of his opponents.
Fix this textAlways cheerful, urbane, mindful of the feelings
Fix this textof others, and unsophisticated in the exposition of
Fix this texthis views, he set a splendid example, not only to
Fix this textthose who were his fellow-legislators in the
Fix this textTHE HON. SIR JOHN HAY, K.C.M.G.
Fix this textIt's easy and takes two shakes of a lamb's tail!
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http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-128329114
(1880). The bulletin Retrieved July 26, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-128329114
The bulletin Sydney, N.S.W: John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, 1880. Web. 26 July 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-128329114>
1880, The bulletin John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, Sydney, N.S.W viewed 26 July 2025 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-128329114
{{Citation
|
| title=The bulletin.
| year=1880
| section=105 volumes : illustrations (chiefly coloured), portraits (chiefly coloured) ; 30-40 cm.
| issn=0007-4039
| series=John Ryan Comic Collection (Specific issues).
| issue=Vol. 5 No. 53 (29 Jan 1881)
| location=Sydney, N.S.W
| publisher=John Haynes and J.F. Archibald
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-128329114
| id=nla.obj-128329114
| access-date=26 July 2025
| via=Trove
}}
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