298

TITE P.RITTSTT KMPITIR: — AUSTRALIA

wealth aro to provic]« a battle cruiser of the Imlefatigable class ; three iinaviiiourt-d cruisers of the Bristol class; six destroyers of the improved "River" class; and two submarines of ' E ' class*; also the necessary auxiliaries such as docks and depot ships. This fleet will be one of the three divisions of the Eastern ileet working in close association ■with the China and East Indies squadrons of the Royal Nav5' — all being under one control in war ; but the Australian Unit being controlled by the Comniouwealtli Governnient in peace. The personnel will be subject to the King's regulations, and under naval discipline. The vessels •will be manned as far as possible by Australians, supplemented by Imperial officers and men. Two of the destroyers arrived in Australia in November, 1910, a third has been launched in Australia. The battle cruiser is under construction. The modern Australian Navy by the end of 1013 should consist of one Dreadnought battle cruiser, Australia (aister to the Neiu Zealand), three protected cruisers of the ' Town ' class, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and ('. ' River ' class destroyers. A Naval College is to be established for the training of officers.

Production.

The area under crops (distinguishing the prinoipal orops) in the Common- wealth, and the yield in 1911-2, were as follows :

Crops

Total acreage

Total yield

Yield per acre

Acres

Bushels

Bushels

Wheat 'J

7,427,832

71,636,347

9-64

Oats

0)16,857

9, ■.61,771

15-50

Barley .....

116,466

2,056,836

17-68

Maize .....

340,074

s;,9or.,20i

26-19

Tons

Tons

Hay

2,. 518, 270

2,867,902

1-14

Potatoes ....

130,4(;.S

.",01.-180

2-31

Sugar-cane ....

144, 2P3

1,682,250

16-65 ]

Vineyards ....

60,602

Gallons

—

Wine

4,975,147

~

1 Per acre of prodnctive caire. 2 Estimated acreage, 1912-13, 7,409,176 acres ; production, 70,077,536 bushels.

The total area under all crops in 1911-12 was 12,106,642 acres, and the total value of agricultural production, 38,776,000Z.

At the end of 1911 there were in the Commonwealth 2,279,000 horses, 11,819,000 cattle, 92,948,000 sheep, and 1,111,000 pigs. The production of wool in 1911 amounted to 767,785,000 lbs. and the exports to 578,824,000 lbs. greasy, valued at 21,395,000?., 68,258,000 lbs. scoured, valued at 4,4Ol,0O0Z., and 2,513,000 lbs. of tops, valued at 275,000/. Tlie exports of tallow amounted in value to 1,937,000/. ; of sheepskins to 1,614,000/ : and of frozen meat to 3,232,000/. The butter produced amounted to 212,876,000 lbs., of which 101,722,000 lbs., valued at 4,637,000/., were exported.

The mineral products were valued at 23,487,000/. in 1911, including: gold, 10,552,000/. (2,484,000 fine oz. ) ; silver and lead, 3,021,000/. ; copper, 2,564,000/. ; tin, 1,210,000/. ; coal, 3,930,000/.

Statistics of the manufacturing industries in the Commonwealth in 1911 are given as follows: — number of estal)]ishments, 14,455; hands emy)loyed, 311,772 ; salaries and wages paid, 27,532,000/. ; value of plant and machinery, 31,599,200/; value of materials used, 79,042,000/. ; value added by manu- facture, 54,145,000/. ; value of output, 133,187,000/.

Commerce.

Throughout the Commonwealth there are uniform customs duties, and trade between the States is free. For 1911 the net revenue collected from

customs duties amounted to 10,945,007/.