LAND SETTLEMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20024, 14 August 1928, Page 11

LAND SETTLEMENT.

WEST AUSTRALIAN SCHEME.

BRITAIN'S AID SOUGHT.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. After conferring with the British Government concerning a settlement scheme for Western Australia, involving 8,000,000 acres, and £4,500,000, the Hon. Alexander McCallum, Minister of Public Works in the West Australian Government is returning to the Commonwealth by the Niagara. "The scheme was viewed very favourably by the British authorities, and I have every confidence it will be accepted by them," said Mr. McCallum. "The whole crux of the question is this—we have the laud with unlimited possibilities, and Great Britain has tlie people. Our State, with a population of only 400,000, is unable to finance a large" immigration scheme, and the object of my visit to Britain was to secure financial support.

If the scheme was adopted it was proposed to provide 1000-acre blocks, at an average cost of from 12s to 15s an acre, the purchasers being given 30 years to pay. "The cost of such a scheme can be well appreciated when it is stated 400 miles of railway and 6000 miles of roads will have to be constructed, in addition to schools, churches, post offices, etc," said Mr. McCallum. "I have the. greatest confidence in the future of the State. We have the largest tracts of undeveloped country in the world, with what 1 consider the greatest possibilities." Discussing the type of settlers ho considered would make good, Mr. McCallum said he favoured the miners. There were 300,000 of them unemployed in Great Britain, and ho thought they would quickly adapt themselves to new conditions. They were steady, hardy and thrifty.