SETTLING AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18553, 10 November 1923, Page 9

SETTLING AUSTRALIA.

N.S. WALES PROPOSALS.

HIGHER COST NOW INVOLVED.

HEATED CONTROVERSY RAGING.

[FROM OXJR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

SYDNEY. Nov. 1.

The principal interest in political circles at the present time in New South Wales centres in the immigration agreement with the Imperial and Federal Governments, under which the New South Wales Government aims at settling 6000 migrants either on farms or in rural employment within five years. When the agreement was before the State House, before the Premier, Sir George Fuller, went to London to conclude it, the sums mentioned as being the whole amount involved for all parties aggregated nine millions. Recently, however, an advisory committee, which went into the matter, placed the probable ultimate cost of the scheme, which includes the construction of roads and railways, etc., in opening up new lands, advances to the settlers, training those who require it in farm work on special farms to be established. for the purpose, at 19 millions to New South Wales alone. This has created a great stir in political circles, as nobody contemplated the State being committed to an expenditure of more than six millions. It appears that the committee has included in the cost the value of land to be made over to the settlers. The general impression was that Crown lands unalienated would be used, but it now appears that largo areas of resumed lands, within workable distance of railways, will be required to make the scheme practicable. The capital cost, of course, will be repayable on long terms, but expert critics point dubiously to the chances of a sufficient number " making good " to eliminate a problematical element in this direction. It appears, also, that the committee estimated for a maximum advance to the 6000 settlers of £9,000,000. This the spokesmen of the Government declare to be beyond all probabilities. They admit that to " make good " a capital of £1500 per farm thus contemplated may be necessary, but they point out that the agreement only mentions an advance of £500 per settler, half of which is to be provided by the Imperial Government. As for the balance of the money required, they point out that, as far as possible, prospective settlers who have small capital of their own will be chosen, it being: desirable that their own savings, as well as the Government advances, should be at stake. The potency pf this argument is conceded by the critics, but they point oat that a scheme contemplating settlers with capital of something between £500 and £1000 of their own assumes a different aspect from that first propounded, and the scope for enlistment under it in Great Britain is greatly narrowed. It is pointed out, also, that the prospect of settling 6000 such persons in five years, which, under the agreement, must oa accomplished in order to obtain a substantial concession offered by the Imperial Government in the matter of interest on the loans involved is rendered much more uncertain if the migrants are all > expected to possess the amount of capital indicated. The Government announces to-day that by way of practical test of the scheme 200 specially-selected migrants will be sought, to arrive early next year. /