POLICY SPEECH. THE NEW LABOUR MINISTRY. SETTLING THE LAND.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19, 24 January 1911, Page 7

POLICY SPEECH. THE NEW LABOUR MINISTRY. SETTLING THE LAND.

RESUMPTION TO BE RESORTED TO. By Telegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright;. (Received January 24, 10.20 a.m.) "SYDNEY, This Day. Mr. X. Nielson, Minkter of Lands in the State Government, in a policy speech to his constituents at Yass, vigorously denied that the Labour Party was opposed to immigration, but' they must first prepare the land. Referring to the freehold, Mr. Neilson declared that no landholder would be dispossessed without reasonable compensation. The email remnant of Crown, lands available would be let out in such a way that they could not possibly accumulate into large estates, and would be given out only under the leasing system. They would study the land to be used before speculators were allowed to acquire it. Railways and roads to open land for settlement would be undertaken, at a cost, approximately, of half a million sterling. Following Canada's example, the Government would rnak© railwaya precede settlement. The speaker promised a Bill to consolidate the land laws and make plain the portions where a conflict ot opinion occurred. The examination and cliiesification of Crown lands would be undertaken by a tribunal working over the whole State. The three divisional land boaa-ds would be abolished and one board appointed to deal with settlement promotion. For resumptions they would probably have to pay five- millionis. In the Eastern and Central divisions there were forty-tw> thousand acres suitable fior agriculture unalienated, and the total aiea available for settlement was 10,706,000 acres. This made possible 57 agricultural farms, 940 mixed farms, and 1323 grazing farms. Within the Eastern and Central districts there were reserves containing 18,547,000 acres. Of this 12,312,000 acres were 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 bo made available until resumption was resorted to. If necessary, added the Minister, preliminary work in connection with settlement, such as clearing^ would be done by the Government. Settlement would be the first consideration ; revenue from land would be a subsidiary factor.