"He can take up wheatfarming ... and if he has a good reputation, he will find no difficulty in getting on shares the kind of farm he wants." HOW THE SETTLER IS ASSISTED. The different Australian States fully recognise the great value to the community of the farmer, and special steps are taken to assist him in different ways. Financial assistance is rendered through agricultural banks in West Australia and Queensland, the Credit Foncier in Victoria, and State Banks in New South Wales and South Australia. Through these Government institutions advances are made to settlers. Full particulars in this regard are furnished in another booklet, obtainable by intending settlers. [Illustration: FARMERS ON THE WAY TO A COUNTRY SHOW.] In Australia all the railways are State-owned, and the endeavour is to carry farm produce and farming implements, fertilisers, &c., at the lowest possible rate compatible with the railways covering working expenses and depreciation of stock. Special rates are made for long distances. The rates vary in the different States, but it can be confidently said that they prove no hindrance to successful wheatgrowing. As all the wheat grown in Australia has to be carried to the seaboard on the railways, the particulars of success achieved, as already given, proves that. The Commonwealth Statistician furnishes the following particulars of State railway rates for agricultural produce in the different States, which serve as a guide to the settler:-- +------------------+-------------------------------------+ | |Charge per Ton in | | |truckloads for a haul of | | State. +-----------+------------+------------+ | | 50 miles. | 100 miles. | 200 miles. | +------------------+-----------+------------+------------+ | | $ | $ | $ | |New South Wales | 1.20 | 1.80 | 2.28 | |Victoria | 1.32 | 2.04 | 2.52 | |Queensland | 1.10 | 2.10 | 2.64 | |South Australia | 1.48 | 2.10 | 3.10 | |Western Australia | 1.50 | 2.14 | 2.90 | |Tasmania | 1.62 | 2.32 | 3.12 | +------------------+-----------+------------+------------+ |Average | 1.36 | 2.08 | 2.76 | +------------------+-----------+------------+------------+