[Editor: This article, regarding the New Year, was published in The Bundaberg Mail (Bundaberg, Qld.), 3 January 1925.]
The New Year.
The New Year — 1925 — has commenced under circumstances that will give gratification to the whole community. The year just gone, with its prosperity and reverses, with its joys and sorrows, according to how we view them, has left us with, on the whole, pleasant recollections of normal prosperity, and prepared for a further profitable experience in this regard, if we are to read the prospects correctly.
Bundaberg and its fertile districts have a great deal to show for the enterprise and resources of the people, and conditions point to a further exemplification of this desirable state of affairs. As an agricultural community, great progress has been made, particularly, in the sugar industry, and unquestionably the value of arable lands have been considerably increased by the steady expansion and development that have taken place.
The cultivation of increased sugar areas, and the better cultivation of crops, together with favourable nature conditions, have enabled the whole community to benefit, and the further stabilising of the industry consequent on the Federal Government’s announcement of a continuation of the embargo for another three years on the importation of sugar from abroad, may be expected to play an important part in the further development of this rich district, and consequently in the progress of every person within its confines.
As is generally known, all other agricultural production is infinitesimal around Bundaberg compared to sugar production, and the commercial status of the city is practically dependent upon such. Facts such as this undoubtedly impressed the Prime Minister when he visited the sugar areas, and it is gratifying to know that this solid basis of prosperity exists, and that its continuance is assured.
Real estate and the values thereof are a veritable emblem of stability, and transactions in this, both in city and country, have undoubtedly been large during the past year, all classes of property having been augmented in value. In Bundaberg itself business expansion has been evidenced by new buildings and other permanent improvements, notwithstanding the disabilities in this direction, compared to earlier years.
The mining industry benefits us little locally, and throughout the State has not returned to its erstwhile prosperity, but there are undeniable indications that the great pastoral industry is likely to make some recovery, and enable those engaged in it to conduct the industry at something like a fair return. This industry has suffered a depression for several years now, and pastoralists have grimly waited for a favourable turn in its affairs. This district is directly concerned, and an improvement would be the means of adding immeasurably to the prosperity of the community.
The dairying industry has continued in its customary way, and it is some satisfaction to witness the growing tendency to improve herds, but, unfortunately, the feeding of them is mostly left to nature, which does not always oblige. So much has been said and written concerning this aspect of the industry that, that drought periods should find provision made for them, but cases of the kind are the exception. All that need be said here is that those who are wise in their generation and keep only grade stock, and the means of feeding them when natural grasses fail, are amply rewarded, and are assets to the district.
So generous has the rainfall been during the past month or two that the 1925 prospects are reminiscent of years long since gone, though well remembered by older residents. The wish will be general that another successful year will eventuate, marked by bountiful crops and industrial peace, a condition essential in any great industry where labour is largely employed.
“The winter of our discontent,” it may be hoped, is past, and the summer of approaching prosperity at hand. With the willing co-operation of the people, greater achievement is possible during the coming year, and in saying this we must keep in mind one of the district’s biggest projects in the extension of the railway from Wallaville to the Goodnight Scrub, for it will be only a few months before the Government will frame its next financial Estimates. This is one of our regrets of the past year, and we must seek to turn it into an accomplishment this year, for it is an important factor in the welfare of the community. With the promising outlook, we must redouble our efforts to secure the construction of this long promised and once-started railway — one of our New Year hopes and resolutions.
Source:
The Bundaberg Mail (Bundaberg, Qld.), 3 January 1925, p. 4
[Editor: Changed “gratifying to kown” to “gratifying to know”.]
[Editor: The original text has been separated into paragraphs.]
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