NORTHERN ADVOCATE DAILY SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1932. BIG RAILWAY PROJECT

Northern Advocate, 17 December 1932, Page 8

NORTHERN ADVOCATE DAILY

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1932. BIG RAILWAY PROJECT

Registered for transmission through , the post as a Newspaper.

We referred in Thursday’s issue to the development of aviation in Australia, and the fact that the Federal (lovernment is considering a recommendation that Australia should undertake the extension of aerial transport from Darwin to Singapore, thus linking up with imperial Airways’ system. North Australia is arresting the attention of-'rail-way promoters as well as aviation promoters, and altogether there is evidence that the Commonwealth is seriously ■ thinking about the need for development of her latent possibilities/ It has been proposed , that a railway line should be laid from/Darwin to Bourke, a town in >New South Wales, 500 miles west of Sydney.

The object of the line is to open to development the Northern Territory which was taken over from South Australia in 1911. Between 1911 and 1929 this territory cost the Federal Goveru-

ineut over £10,000,000 (including’' £6,000,000 to South Australia for taking over the- land and railways). The annual Budget loss | has continued at the rate of £500,000 a year, and the territory is at a standstill, constituting a burden upon Australia’s finances and at the same time being a menace by reason of the effect which such a huge unoccupied territory may have upon foreign nations. An Anglo-Aus-tralian company, backed by powerful financial interests in London, is prepared lo linance and construct a standard guage line about 136.1. miles long from Bourke through western Queensland to Bii’dun, the present terminus of the line from Darwin; and further to convert the lino from Darwin (3.16 miles) to standard guage and to improve the wharf .accommodation at

Darwin. It is also suggested that a branch line should bo so constructed from. Anthony’s Lagoon to Borroloola, the McArthur River port on the Clnlf of Carpentaria. The railway is expected to cost about £15,000,000. It will open' up vast areas of well-grassed and healthy lands with a good rainfall, which comprise . the greatest undeveloped C'attTc-prbducing country in the world today. In drought p> el ’iods these lands would provide most valuable pasture grounds for cattle from Queensland. From a defence point of view the railway line is essential as a means of conveying troops to an area most likely to be occupied by hostile

forces. The work required for the construction of the line and the provision of material Avould pc a valuable)'.help to the - States oi* New South Wales aud Queensland. The Federal Government' is apparently favourable to the development of the area by private enterprise, and' the only question at issue is the terms on which the work will he carried out. The London interests have intimated that, provided the Government will guarantee a bond issue on terras to be agreed upon and will-make available on a reasonable basis territorial concessions for developmental purposes, they will construct and finance the

completion, of the 'line, which may be run by private enterpriee or otherwise. The company asks for a lease of lands, not exceeding 40,000 sqiiare miles, of resnmable leases or Crown lands for 66 years at a rent of not more than ss. per square mile. It also asks for the freehold of 200,000 acres of Crown lands or by transfer from existing leases. The company also desires a lease of Melville and Bathurst Islands, 50 miles north of Darwin. It is believed that they are suitable for tropical cultivation, dairying and pig raising. As it is obvous that

the Federal Government will not be able to undertake a national work of such magnitude for some years, it is likely that Australia will adopt the policy which guided the Canadian Government when it granted to private enterprise the concession that brought into being flic big railway lines which-.now traverse Die great Dominion.