NEW SOUTH WALES POLITICS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 24 January 1911, Page 5

NEW SOUTH WALES POLITICS.

THE MINISTER FOR LANDS IN THE SOUTH. THE NEW LAND POLICY. RAILWAYS AND ROADS BEFORE SETTLEMENT. ABOLITION OF THE FREEHOLr PItEFS ASSOCCATION. CoPYKIGHI. (Rec. 10.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, Tuesday. Mr N. R. W. Neilsen. : Minister of Lands, in a policy speech at Yass. vigorously denied that the Labour Party opposed immigration, but -•*''-• said that they must first prepare the land. Referring to the he declared that no land-hoider would be d'ispossesed without reasonable ci mpensation. Tim small remnant oi Crown lands available would be let out in such a way taht areas could, not i>ossibl3' accumulate into large estates. • Land would, be given out only under th'e leasing system. The Government would study to have the land used before speculators took advantage of railways and roads., and in order to open the land for settlement, railways and roads would be undertaken at a ■■ ost approximately of £500,000. Following Canada's example, . l .he Government would make railways precede settlement. Mr Xeilsc-n promised a Bill to consolidate the land laws and make .plain portions where there was a confliei of opinion. The examination and classification of Crown lands would be undertaken by a tribunal working over th'e whole State, and the three Divisional £and .Boards would be abolished-, one Board being appointed to deal with settlement promotion. In land resumptions the State probably wouid have to pay £5,000,000.. In The and Central Divisions there were 42,000 acres suitable io agriculture unalienated.

The total area available for settlement was 10,700,000 acres. This made possible 57 agricultural farms. 940 mixed farms, 1323 grazing farms. Within the Eastern and Genual Districts there were reserves containing 18.547,000 acres. Of this i.2,312,000 acres were suitable to settlement. In .the Western division they had 4,500,000 acres suitable fcr settlement in areas under 10,000 acres. .. In improvement ar>d othe: clAsses of inferior land leases thenwere 8,T99,000 acres suitable for settlement. This would not be made available until resumption was resorted to. If necessary, preliminary

work, such a s clearing, would be done by the Government. Settlement would be the first consideration, an£ >. lie revenue from the land would 'r>i -; übsidiary factor.