EXPLOITING BOLIVIA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 5 April 1926, Page 2

EXPLOITING BOLIVIA.

Li AN D OF OIL. AND RUBBER

TASK 808 BRITISH SETTLERS. Oil and mineral lights in ten million acres of land .have been obtained by a .British company from the South. American .Republic of Bolivia. The company has also secured concessions on of),UUQ,UOO acres of agricultural land and virgin forest—a large portion or the ancient dominions of the Incas — with the right of building roads, raiiwuys, ports and factories, importing and exporting all commodities duty free for 25 years and permission to control the settlement of 3000 European families a year for five years. ' Bolivia is the home of rubber. It has great oil deposits, and its climate, described as ‘‘eternal spring' 1 in the eastern portion, is suitable for almost every crop. Air Lilloe-Gangen, a Norwegian born in England, wiio is a managing director of the syndicate, gave details of the enterprise in London recently with, as much composure as if he were planning a small retail shop. He explained that the development of this virgin territory has only been made possible by a treaty yith Brazil, which enables Bolivia to use the River Paraguay 7 as an outlet and an inlet for its trade. “There are 300,000 square on lies of land eminently suitable for agriculture in Eastern Bolivia,” said Alp LiUoeGangen, “and it in this area that we have been granted 30,000,000 acres of agricultural land freehold in perpetuity. Everything that is needed could easily be grown, and enormous quantities of coffee, sugar, cocoa, rubber and wheat could be exported. Thousands of wild cattle roam the plains. “Bolivia has no. seaports, but the eastern portion is served by the River Paraguay, which is navigable for vessels of 2000 tons to Corumba, 1500 miles from Buenos Aires. The rich region to the north has remained undeveloped until now because the Brazilian Government refused the use of the rirer to ‘Bolivia, but that difficulty has been removed by treaty, and we shall operate steamers under the Bolivian flag. “Famous experts who have examined the oilfields of Bolivia are of opinion that the largest oilfields in the world are to be found there. Under our concessions we have four years to select 10,000,000 acres anywhere we like in the three provinces __ of Santa Cruz, Chuquisaca and Tarija. “There will he many openings in these vast reaches for settlers who can provide the purchase money for their land. The company is interested in two farms in Cambridgeshire, and it is their intention to train settlers there in tropical agriculture before sending them out to Bolivia, where they will be under the supervision .of experts. “In return for the concessions we have obtained we undertake to build a port, construct 60 miles of railway, and install a wireless station, sawmills and factories. “The Government have only granted the company these enormous concessions to induce British capital to the country as a counter-action to the wide American interests. As imports and exports are to be duty-free for 25 years we shall be able to compete against any country in the world. “Opportunities for British exports in the future seem illimitable. There is.no reason why the country should not supr i ' A. 000 people, and why agricultural machinery,' steel rails, rollingstock and everything needed in opening up a new country should not come from Britain.” v