NORTH AUSTRALIA.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 June 1923, Page 3

NORTH AUSTRALIA.

SETTLEMENT PROBLEM. SYDNEY. June 1. A scheme recently put forward by Major-General Fames, for settling the North of Australia, by groups organised on military service lines, is receiving considerable support, and a special committee which lias been appointed to deal with it is energetically canvassing the official and unofficial circles whose interests it is necessary to enlist to bring it to fruition. The scheme suggested by Major-Gen-eral Fames contemplates settlement by British migrants, who would be established in community settlements, distributed at points of vantage effectively to defend the coal line, lie believes that the occupation of the Northern Territory could he accomplished within a reasonable time, and on a sound commercial basis, provided the operations were entrusted to private enterprise in the shape of a co-operative association, equipped with powers of local government. The inducements which, it is suggested, should be offered to settler.*! are: Free passage to the Territory; free clothing, quarters, and care; free education in tropical agriculture, and an allowance of 3s per diem on a eo-opera-tivo agreement for three years, with the grant of a freehold farm and house, equipped with every model n convenience* at the conclusion o! the agreement, in exchange lor his labour, to be employed in the building and equipping of community settlements, railways, and other works. During the past week General Fames brought the proposal before the Con-* lerenco of the Associated Chambers of Commerce which was sitting in Liisbnne, and which gave its lull approval to the project, declaring that the time laid arrived to safeguard the eonnneroial potentialities of the tropica! north hv the immediate establishment of community settlement on sound business lines at ail points of access info the enuntrv so as to minimise all danger to the national peace which might arise through the influx of unauthorised aliens into the country. Further that R was advisable, in the best interests of the Empire, that in view of the poor response to all Government attempt' at settlement, private enterprise should be encouraged to sufve the problem hv the granting of facilities to carry out the work as one big comprehensive measure Kv»w Chamber of Commerce was‘urged to treat this matter ns one of national urgency and work tow ant. the solution.