NORTH AUSTRALIA

Evening Star, Issue 21640, 8 February 1934, Page 14

NORTH AUSTRALIA

TERMS FOR A CHARTER Strict ’ observance of the White Australia policy and the Australian administrative policy for the protection of aborigines-will be a cardinal ' feature in any charter arranged for the _ dbvelopment of North Australia, is a point emphasised in the prospectus prepared by the Government for; circulation among interests which may invest in the territory. It was. reported last week that the Government-had received art offer from a powerful British financial group 'which was prepared to Spend a huge sum in developing a vast area of North-western Australia under a chartered company sclietoc. ’ '■ -Special ■- conditions of - the Government’* offer, .which includes tariff and i taxation -nopcsessions, are set out as follow ■ 1. ■ The- Government will '■ be prepared to grant to the chartered company for,a term of .years , under ,fayourablc oondi t ions Crown lands not.at present held under lease. 2. The Government is prepared to afford ;any 'chartered {company favourable conditions' to' enable? it to’ construct:or obtain a lease of any 1 railways, tramways, wharves, or other works, necessary for the development of the area in- the-charter.-3., The Government is prepared to enact a special tariff'for. North Australia. .This would be based ; upon the ■ realisation that there , are no industries in . North Australia ■which require tariff protection, and would include provisions permitting the importation of' goods direct or through the States, either free of duty or at low rates of duty. 1 4... The .’Government is also prepared id ask Parliament to give, the chartered company exemptiom-from land and income tax for .a .definite period of. years.. ' 5. The Government is prepared to ask Parliament to pass any amending legislation to' safeguard the rights of- the com. panyl . . 6; The Government is willing to consider favourably any proposals - leading to the development of the mineral resources. The prospectus gives a detailed descrip* tion of the known resources of the {area concerned, which has an area ,of 287,053 square miles and a population, estimated at 4,549, comprising 2,950 Europeans, 687 Asia, ties, ; 85 half-castes, and; 60 “others.” In addition there is an aboriginal population estimated at 19,407.,, : . ; , The prospectus suggests two afeas in the territory as particularly suitable for charter —the -Victorian {River area,- abutting;'on th«i eastern boundary 6f Western Australia, and the ' Barky Tableland,-, south -of Gulf i.f Carpentaria, near the. western boundary of Queensland. The Government undertakes to use it*' good offices to secure the practical-interest* of existing pastoral lessees in North Aus. tralia! for the scheme, - as well as the good* will and practical co-operation, of the British and . Western Australian Government* if necessary.