The Contrast between Asia and Australia 323

Fig. 188. Loading coal at Newcastle, in New South Wales. The derrick picks up the body of
the coal car on the track, swings it over to the ship, and empties it into the hold. Sydney and
Newcastle are the ports from which Australian coal is shipped throughout the South Pacific
region.

Position of Asia and Australia in production and commerce.
The trade of the United States with Australia and Asia is increasing
 faster than with any other parts of the world (pages 294, 295).
Both continents are relatively undeveloped, Australia because it is
new and sparsely settled, Asia because its people, as a rule, have not
made much progress in modern methods of industry, commerce, and
government. Both continents offer enormous possibilities: Asia
because it contains a vast number of industrious inhabitants whose activities
 in both production and consumption can be greatly stimulated ;
Australia because it contains some of the world’s most competent and
progressive people, who are determined that newcomers to their continent
 shall be of the same kind.
Asia and Australia stand in an intermediate group among the continents.
 Europe and North America are highly developed and carry
on much manufacturing. They are coming more and more to consume
 the food and the raw materials that they produce, and to call
for more from other regions. In Africa and South America commerce
and industry are limited because in large areas, although by no means
everywhere. the people have the tropical inertia which hinders them