DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Hokitika Guardian, 19 July 1933, Page 6

DEVELOPMENT PLAN

O F H A,U ST RALIAN T B R RIT&R Y '

DETAILS OF PLAN DISCLOSED

Sydney; July-- is.

Senator Pearce, -chairman of -the Federal Cabinet sub-committee, dealing with plans for development of North Australia, disclosed details of the Government’s project He emphasised that pastoral development, rather than agricultural, was the Government’s object', and lie 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-the McArthur River, on -the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Mr Lyons gave an assurance that the rights of the lessees in Northern Territory would be protected, adding that lessees would probably co-operate .with the chartered companies. Mr Perkins proposed to visit Northern territory shortly, to deal with the administrator of the territory.

The opinion was expressed by Adelaide men, familiar with the Territory, that the area which could be adapted to • the Government’s scheme was small

OPINION OF A PASTORALIST

MELBOURNE, July 19

Mr W. Oliver, a pastoralist with a wide knowledge of the Northern Territory said that much as he would like to see the the Territory adequately populated “I see little prospect of its accomplishment. I do not think that any •company, such as the Government suggests, has any hope of coping with the Territory. Candidly, if I were offered the whole of North Australia for fifty years as a gift on condition that I worked it, I would refuse it.