LAND SETTLEMENT.

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

LAND SETTLEMENT.

NEW SOUTH WALES POLICY. By TolecrapU—Press Association—Copyright. . _ Sydney, January 24. Mr. Ncilsen, Minister for Lands in tho 'Stato Government, in a policy speech to his constituents at Yass, vigorously denied that tho Labour party was opposed to immigration, but declared they must first prepare the land for settlers. Referring to tho freehold, Mr. Neilsen declared that no landholder would be dispossessed without reasonable compensation. Tho small remnants of Crown land available would bo let out in such a way tiiat they could not possibly accumulate into largo estates, arid would bo given out only- under tho leasing system. TIIO Government would study tho land to. he used before speculators were allowed to acquire it. Railways and roads to open land for settlement would bo undertaken, at a cost, approximately, of half a million sterling. Following Canada's example, tlio Government would make railways prepede settlement. The speaker promised a Bill to consolidate tha land laws and mako plain the portions where a conflict of opinion occurred. Tho examination and classification of Crown lands would bo undertaken by a tribunal working over tho whole State. Tho three divisional land boards would be abolished and one board appointed to deal with settlement promotion'. For resumptions 'they would probably have to pay five millions. In the Eastern and Central Divisions there were forty-one thousand acres suitable for agriculture unalienated,:and the total-area available for settlement was 10,706,000 acres. This made possible 57 agricultural farqs, 940 mixed farms, and 1323 grazing fdrms. Within the Eastern and Central districts there were reserves containing 18,547,000 aores. . Of this 12,312,000 acres wcro suitable for settlement. In the Western Division they had 4,500,000 acres suitable for settlement in areas under 10,000 acres. In improvement and . other classes of inferior land leases there were 8,199,000' acres suitable for settlement. This could not be made available until resumption was resorted to. If necessary, added tile Minister, prework in connection with settlement, such as clearing, would bo done by the Government. Settlement would bo the. first consideration; Tcvenue from land would be a' subsidiary factor.