THE AUSTRALIAN OVERLAND

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1034, 25 January 1911, Page 7

THE AUSTRALIAN OVERLAND

JERANS-CONTINENTAL RAILWAY A :• , BILL. . | $7 Telegraph—Press Association—CopyrlEht. ' V " Melbourne, January 24. 'K Bill will be introduced into the House of Representatives next session authorising tho construction of the Port Augusta to Kalgoorlie railway, linking ■up the railway systems of -the Eastern States , with that of West Australia. ..

The Federal Minister'for Home Affairs, Mr;; King O'Malley, some months ago suggested that if tho Commonwealth built the Western trans-Continental Railway, South Australia and West Australia should hand over to tho Commonwealth a 50-mile strip of territory along tho route. Mr: O'Malley said that all he wanted tvas-that the Commonwealth should get a fair deal. _ Tho construction of the lino and. its equipment and maintenance for twelve months was estimated to : cost .£'3,988,000, and it would bo paid by the 'States in tho following proportion :— . £ ■: . New South Wnles 1,484,128 Victoria 1,181,466 Queensland .....\ 524,438 : South Australia 379,512 : West Australia 250,288 • Tasmania 168,168 It would be seen, therefore, said Mr. O'Milley, that the two - States which primarily benefit would pay only .i£629,800, leaving ,£3,355,200 to be found by the rest of Australia. "Mr. O'Malley thinks it would be a good proposition if. South Australia and West Australia roiild make the grant of land.. The capital realised from the sale of. the land • would be paid into the. consolidated rev>nue,- and tho land would go back to the jurisdiction of the States for rating and taxation purposes. • . '• West. Australia indignantly opposed this "land-grabbing" proposal, and the ActingPremier of that State, Mr. Wilson, said tho land consideration' Mr. O'Malley spoke of so lightly represented 14,560,000 acres, ■which he believed could be disposed of in London within 24 hours at 3s. 4u. per acrc, or a total of .£2,427,000, while the line could be built and equipped to West Australia's eastern border for X 750.000. Sir. Wilson said the peoplb of West Australia , were tired of waiting for the line. They . bad between ICalgoorlie and the border 165 ■ miles of auriferous country, and 290 of open grass.and blue bush plain; and bores had tapped an artesian hnsin,.