N.S.W. LAND POLICY

Southland Times, Issue 14633, 25 January 1911, Page 6

N.S.W. LAND POLICY

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER. (By Telegraph.—Press Association. —Copyright.) SYDNEY, Jan. 24. Mr Nielson, Minister of Lands, in a policy speech at Yass, vigorously denied that tl e Labour party opposed immigration. but said that they must first prepare ih i land. Referring to the freehold, in. declared that no landholder would bo dispossessed without reasonable compensation. The small remnant of Crown lar.ds available would bo let out in such a’way tliqi it'could not possibly accumulate into large estates. It would be given out,only under the leasing system. Railways and roads to open up land for settlement would be undertaken at a cost approximately ol £500.00u. following Canada’s example, they would make railways precede settlement. lie promised a Bill to consolidate the land laws and make plain portions where a eoiUlici of opinion occurred. The examination and classification of Crown lands would be undertaken by a tribunal working over the whole State. Tlie three Divisional Land Hoards would be abolished and one Board' appointed to deal with si-uk-mem promotion. In resumptions they would probobly have to pay live millions sterling. In the Eastern and Central Divisions there were 12.000 acres suitable for agriculture utialienated. Tlie total available for settlement was 10.700.000 acres. This made possible 57 agricultural farms, 040 mixed farms, and 1323 grazing farms. Within the Eastern and Central Districts there were reserves containing 18,547,000 acres. Of this 12,312,000 acres was suitable for settlement. In the Western Division they had 4.500,000 acres suitable for settlement in areas under ten thousand acres. In improvement. and other classes of inferior land leases, there were 8,199,000 acres suitable for settlement. This would not be made available until resumption was resorted to, if necessary. Preliminary work, such as clearing, would be done by tlie Government. Settlement would be the first consideration, and tlie revenue from laud a subsidiary factor;