The Rise Of Australasia

Chapter 73: Population Issues and Indigenous Labor

Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Population Issues and Indigenous Labor

Translator: 549690339 |

“Your Highness, the current number of workers and laborers in Australia determines that we cannot carry out large-scale railway and highway construction projects. Therefore, our main goal last year was to repair the streets and roads in various cities and build connecting roads between important areas and cities.” Minister Conwright stood up to answer.

The construction of roads can be regarded as a major project, especially in Australia where the terrain is relatively complex.

Moreover, the lack of population continues to be a disadvantage, leading to insufficient manpower for extensive road construction.

This has resulted in the main focus of the Transportation Department being the renovation of existing urban roads and, at most, the construction of connecting roads between industrial areas and other crucial regions.

Arthur nodded with a slight headache, and his brow furrowed unavoidably.

Population is currently one of the most critical factors limiting Australia’s development. Although immigrants from Europe can alleviate this problem, they cannot completely solve it.

Australia lacks, or rather desperately needs a large number of lower-class people to serve as labor for its industrial development and various constructions.

European immigrants mostly assume the roles of ordinary citizens, and if they are too severely exploited, it might reduce their recognition of and loyalty to the country, affecting social stability.

It is necessary to introduce a large, exploitable population from abroad to improve the conditions for Australia’s industry and development.

At present, apart from Australia’s own New Guinea, the Dutch East India Colony in Southeast Asia is the nearest location to address Australia’s labor problem.

With only about 900,000 indigenous people, New Guinea can partially resolve the labor shortage. However, complete resolution still depends on colonies like the Dutch East Indies, which are home to tens of millions of indigenous people.

Although doing so may result in hundreds of thousands or even millions of indigenous deaths, who would care?

Looking at each European power and colonial country, the rise of any powerful country is accompanied by bloody oppression and exploitation.

Being able to shift such losses onto non-native peoples is a good thing for both Australia and the Australian people.

“The Transportation Department’s mission this year is to build highways connecting all states. This will be the department’s main task for the next few years. I hope we can strengthen the connection between our states through new roads, and improve Australia’s transportation and economic development,” Arthur continued.

“Yes, Your Highness,” Minister Conwright nodded earnestly.

“Has the industrial sector completed its tasks? I remember that we were asked to triple our steel production. Have we reached that standard?” Arthur turned his gaze to Minister of Industry Pierre and asked.

Arthur was referring to the industrial three-year plan laid out at the time.

According to Arthur’s requirements, the industrial sector must triple Australia’s annual steel production of 3,700 tons and iron production of 5,000 tons by 1899, so that steel and iron production eventually reach 100,000 tons and 140,000 tons or more, respectively.

It has been a year since the plan was drafted. In accordance with the plan, steel and iron production should have reached 11,000 tons and 15,000 tons, respectively.

“Your Highness, although only a little over six months have passed since the plan was made, the industrial sector has basically completed the tasks assigned. In terms of steel production, our newly built industrial areas have met our expectations for steel production. The annual steel production of our steel plants in the industrial areas has surpassed 13,000 tons and 19,000 tons, slightly exceeding the target. With the construction of industrial areas and the addition of more workers, we hope that our steel production will reach 40,000 tons and 50,000 tons or more by the end of the year,” Minister of Industry Pierre said with a smile.

The industrial sector is one of the most important and task-intensive departments in Australia. Yet, due to the 50 million pounds’ worth of industrial equipment Arthur brought from Britain, the development of industry has not been as difficult as imagined.

Especially after receiving aid from Britain and Germany, the development of industry has entered a smooth period.

All that is needed is to combine British and German industrial development technologies and experiences with Australia’s actual situation to ensure the successful development of Australian industry..