Tt seems only yesterday that the Jercat Henry Ford works decided to commence business in "Sleepy Hol. ow" known upon the map as Gee-Jong, the first township founded in Victoria, and the town which right ly or wrongly its inhabitants claim should have been the capital of Victoria. Yet what a notable advancement. Trade has come to Rip Van Winkle." Last year its Exports were valued st £4,987,487. Ne less than 10,466,088 bushels wheat left its port. To carry this wheat 47 vessels entered its port, while in all for the year 95 vessels berthed at its wharves compared with @ mere 22 in 1928, and 47 1925. People will tell yoy tha: suondfacturing had nothing to do with this, but land values increased at the first whisper of "Ford," they continued to increase when the whisper became an accomplished fac Now they boom with capital "B, Frozen carcases leave its harbour for overseas ports to the tune of 110,674, while wool worth £4,000,000 yearly passes through its" handi 'And these exports are increasing, beside hides, leather, produce, salt, cement, woollen textile, canned fruits, jams and pickles. It is too early' yet for motorcars; they will come along later. In 1912, tand was a £5/10/- foot in certain suburbs, to-day it is the trifling price of £20 a foot and finding Duyers. Australia still possesses her diehard Freetraders whilst Great Britain among her leading Dankers has the Chairman of the Bank of Australasia, Mr, Livingstone Learmouth, who in his annual address stated:
"It is apparent that for many years to come it will be desirable to concentrate upon primary products, for, it is obvious that to emulate manufactures unduly by increasing subsidies would have the effect of making the primary producer pay more for his needs and would also further attract Inbour from the Innd where it is badly needed to the towns which already hold far too great a proportion of the total population. A very true statement indeed, but, sorely no man could ask for a better reply to this statement than the recent voluntary liquidation of "Bawra" or as it is officially termed the Betsh Australian Wed Reali Association after the most pro-sporous existence of any financial body in the history of the world. We cannot for ever be supplying the and buying the manufactured goods in return at a higher cost from the Mother Country, but, we can absorb her factories and, factory employees in this country and supply her in turn with the frushed product instead of the raw material,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.