Island Territory.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 June 1922, Page 1

Island Territory.

SOLD]EII SETTLEMENT REJECTED

SYDNEY, June 14

Returned soldiers’ organisations in Australia recently submitted to the Federal Government, proposals for the settlement in Papua and its mandated territory of New -Gurnet of returned soldiers. The proposal has bec.n rejected by tbe Federal Ministry. Tho Prime Minister stated the Ministry, after careful consideration, had come to tho conclusion that it was not in tho best interests of tho Commonwealth. nor of the soldiers themselves, to apply the soldier settlement scheme the island territories. The Cabinet had decided that there were many reasons why soldier settlement in New Guinea should not receive special encouragement. One of these reasons was finance. It cost £025 to settle a man in Australia. In New Guinea it would ha very much more. It would probably take £1,000.000 to settle from 100 to 200 men. With so much land available in Australia it was felt that the heavy expenditure for successful settlement in Now Guinea, was not justified. A soldier settler who purchased an estate worth £SOOO would pay in the first year £1250 v , and for each of the following 10 years £375, plus 5 per cent, on tho diminishing balances; while tho civilian settler would pay twice ns much as the soldier during the first year, and £SOO a year plus 0 per cent, afterwards. The advantage in favour of the soldier was very substantial, hut beyond this the Ministry could not go.