PASTORAL DEVELOPMENT

Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1933, Page 7

PASTORAL DEVELOPMENT

NORTHERN TERRITORY AIM NEW PORT ON CARPENTARIA LESSEES’ RIGHTS GUARDED SOUTHERN MEN DOUBTFUL By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 10 p.m. Sydney, June 18. Sir George Pearce, chairman of the Federal Cabinet sub-committee dealing with plans for the development of north Australia, disclosed the details of the Government’s project.' He emphasised that pastoral development rather than agricultural was the Government’s object, and he indicated that plans were envisaged for the provision of cheaper transport by means of a fleet of fast ships and the building of a new port at the mouth of McArthur River, Gulf of Carpentaria. Mr. J. A. Lyons, Prime Minister, gave an assurance that the rights of lessees in Northern Territory would be protected; the lessees would probably co-oper-ate with tiie chartered companies. Mr. J. A. Perkins, Minister for the Interior, proposed to visit Northern Territory shortly to deal with the administration of the territory. The opinion was expressed by Adelaide men familiar with the territory that the area adaptable to the Government’s scheme was small. Mr. W. Oliver, a pastoralist with a wide knowledge of Northern Territory, said at Melbourne to-day: “Much as I would like to see the territory adequately populated, I can see little prospect of accomplishment. I do not think any company such as the Government suggests will have any hope of developing the territory. Candidly, if I were offered the whole of Northern Australia for 50 years as a gift on condition that I worked it I would refuse it." SHIPPING GAS-CHILLED BEEF EFFECT ON NORTH SCHEME DOMINION MOVE WATCHED z ßec. 11.45 p.m. Canberra, July 18. The Commonwealth Government is watching with keen interest for the results of the shipment of New Zealand gas-chilled beef to London,by the Port Fairy, and if the method adopted is successful an impetus to Australian investigations into chilled beef transport will be afforded. Senator A. J. McLachlan, Minister in charge of scientific and industrial research, to-day remarked that Australian experiments were proceeding satisfactorily but it was not yet possible to begin regular commercial shipments. Success would enhance the prospects of speedy development of Northern Australia. COMPETITION WITH NEW ZEALAND REDUCTION IN FREIGHTS ASKED. A deputation of Commonwealth exporting interests to-day asked the Prime Minister (Mr. J. A. Lyons) to enact legislation to compel shipping companies to bring freights into line with New Zealand export freights in order that exporters, including beef shippers, might better compete with the Dominion. Mr. Lyons promised to place the representations before the Government, whose chief concern was the welfare of the producers, from whom the Govern--ment would like the last word before abolishing the Australian Overseas Transport Association.