CANBERRA’S PROSPECTS

Southland Times, Issue 20791, 4 June 1929, Page 2

CANBERRA’S PROSPECTS

COMMISSIONERS PROPHECY. A prediction that there will be a population of 15,000 people in Canberra in five years was made lately by the Chief Commissioner, Sir John Butters, when addressing the conference of the Australian Provincial Press Association. Sir John said that the civil servants were new to the conditions they found in Canberra, but they were settling down satisfactorily, and when the transfer of the remainder from Melbourne was complete they would be a very happy and contented community. So far not more than 800 public servants had been transferred, and the present total population was 7300. Another 1200 to 1400 would be brought in in the next four or five years, when he estimated the population would be 15,000. The transport conditions at present were a problem, because of the distances between the centres, but as the new population came in these empty spaces would become filled. However, they were building a city for 50 or 100 years hence, when there would be a population of, perhaps, 50,000. Instead of declaring that the city should never have been built, the critics should remember that the city was built, and should cooperate with the Government in making the plan a success. Speaking of the finances in Canberra, Sir John said that the revenue in the last three years was, respectively £154,000, £370,000 and £514,000. He added that he believed that within 25 years the city of Canberra would be one of the best-paying assets in the possession of the Commonwealth.