PLANNING CLOSER SETTLEMENT

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22109, 3 June 1937, Page 12

PLANNING CLOSER SETTLEMENT

1 AN AUSTRALIAN SURVEY Frequently Government schemes of land settlement have been undertaken without consideration being given to all the pertinent factors. The effect ot this neglect is seen in Australia where some huge losses have been incurred in settling men on the land. Perhaps it would not have been possible to have avoided all the losses, but it seems that they could have, been reduced to a minimum if settlement schemes had been wisely planned. From her failures, however. Australia may have learned a valuable lesson, In that country, and indeed in any other country where closer settlement is undertaken by the State, “it should be possible in the future to regard land settlement as a scientific problem, depending for its success upon sound, rational planning." This is the verdict of a circular on closer settlement just published by the Bank of New South Wales, which makes a critical examination of the popular grounds on which land settlement is’ most frequently advocated Schemes carried out in the past have been characterised largely by sectional advocacy, and economic effects have been regarded as subsidiary to the principal objective of increasing the rural population. Although the Australian states have incurred a loss estimated at £A.23,000,000, it seems probable that they will continue to press for closer settlement in rural areas. The governments may not be able to withstand the incessant pressure of sectional interests. It would be unfortunate if it were overlooked that the justification of closer settlement depends largely on economic factors such as marketing prospects for the types of commodities which are to be produced, and the relative economic efficiency of production on large and small holdings. The bank suggests- that a satisfactory standard by which to judge a closer settlement scheme is that to be worth while it should result in increased output of commodities that can be sold at profitable prices. It would be folly to embark upon any scheme which, though increasing the rural population, would mean the cutting up of large grazing holdings producing high grade wool or stud stock.