EMPTY SPACES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21548, 20 July 1933, Page 8

EMPTY SPACES

'AUSTRALIA'S PROBLEM FUTURE OF THE NORTH SUGGESTIONS FOR SETTLEMENT [fkom our own correspondent] SYDNEY, July 13 Tho suggestion by the Dean of Canterbury that Japan should bo invited to. populate Northern Australia, on the strict understanding, be it understood, ,that she should not ask for more, has focussed tho attention of the world on one of Australia's most difficult problems. Of course, no ono in Australia takes seriously the suggestion made by the dean, and there are many who feel that it was not intended to be taken so. Probably it was nothing more than a caustic commentary on the failure of Australia to fill its great empty spaces. Tho idea of encouraging Japan to come south does not appeal to Australians, of course, but they will find it difficult to justify their attitude unless something is done to help to populate a vast area of tropical land, much of which, it is felt, could be inado productive. The strong reply given by tho Prime Minister to the dean's suggestion was based upon a definite decision by the t Federal Cabinet that immediate steps must be taken to initiate a new development plan for the north. It is /admitted that the Government is not in a position to spend a vast sum on any project, and it has been decided as ' a mattor of policy to offer private enterprise tempting inducements to invest capital. Several far-reaching proposals are under consideration. The Government's contribution will be in the form of large concessions. " Sink lor Public Money " One suggestion is that the scheme fcould be best managed by the formation of a huge chartered company on the lines of tho famous British India Company, which would be controlled by the interests concerned. The Minister of the Interior. Mr. Perkins, announced that Vestey Bros, were prepared to co-operate in any such proposal". Vesteys had told the Government that the chief bar to the re-establish-ment of their active interests in tho Northern Territory was the high cost of living at Darwin, which was 90 per cent higher than in Sydney. The Government would therefore investigate immediately the possibility of reducing living costs. n The Government's ideas are not restricted to the Northern Territory proper, but also envisage an all-embracing scheme, including practically the whole of the northern coast and hinterland. iWyndham is included as an essential feature of the area to be developed, and the Commonwealth will begin negotiations with the Western Australian Government so as to secure it§ co-operation. Queensland, too, is vitally interested in anything that may be done by the Commonwealth Government; in fact it would seem that the central government would be well advised to secure the co-operation of all the States. The problem is a national one, and should be attacked on broad lines. To ddte the Northern Territory has been a sink for public money, and it is clear that this will not continue under the new regime. Private enterprise will be the moving factor in thq future. Comparison of Areas

Meanwhile, another Church dignitary, this time in Australia, has come forward with a suggestion that Australia should seek help from _ a European Power in retaining a white Australia. The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane, Dr. Duhig, said on Sunday that Germany might be allowed to have-back her pre-war possessions in New Guinea on condition that she contributed adequate men and ships to Australia's defence. He emphasised the fact that the Federal Government was only beginning to realise something that had been the cause of comment the world oyer —the defenceless position of Australia. Australians, he said, were probably the most inadequately protected people of the world, yet they were in possession of one of the most fertile iind one of the richest countries of the world. If they could not hold Australia themBelves, then they should get others to do it for them, or be prepared to lose it! Mr. Justice Webb, who had spoken earlier at the same function, had compared the size of New Zealand to the arch-diocese of Brisbane, and had remarked facetiously that all New Zealand could be put into the arch-diocese and there would still be something left for Japan. " That." said Dr. Duhig, "was a tilt at the Dean of Canterbury s suggestion to secede a portion of Northern Australia to Japan. Tt wps said that years ago Japan was offered a portion of North Australia, and had refused it, but after the handling which the well-intentioned dean has got from the press and the politicians, I do not think that any one else will have the hardihood to suggest that Japan should get a portion of Northern Australia." Garrison at Darwin The Federal Budget will contain J >rovision for expenditure upon fort deence for Darwin and the establishment of a garrison there. The inauguration pf the Anglo-Australian air-mail service through Darwin and Singapore will make Darwin a strategic point in Imperial communications —a point of entry on the air route from England and India as Fremantle is on the ocean route. These developments will clearly open a new chapter in Australia's handling of the problem of her empty northern regions.