17 JANUARY 1925, Page 14

THE DEVELOPMENT OF NORTHERN AUSTRALIA

[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—I have been a reader of the Spectator for forty years, having begun as a child, with the animal stories, and was much interested recently in your article on the motor trip of Michael Terry and Richard Yockney across the so-called desert portion of Northern Australia. It is not generally recognized that owing to the White Australia policy, some- thing entirely new in the history of the human race is being attempted in that part of the British Empire. Never before has a tropical country either been pioneered, or remained occupied, without black or coloured labour, slave or free. The crux of the problem is whether white women can make homes and rear families there with no domestic help. It may be possible, but if so, then every help which science can give will be needed. To mention one thing only—ice for domestic purposes is, owing to the scattered population, the exception and not the rule in Northern Australia.—I am, Sir,

&c.,

MARY 1. BRADY.

The Manse, East Fremantle, West Australia.