ROOM FOR MILLIONS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 344, 4 October 1932, Page 7

ROOM FOR MILLIONS

NORTHERN TERRITORY OFFERS SCOPE FOR WHITE MEN. Sydney, September 17. The prospects of the Ottawa agreements developing a better Emjpire market for Australian beef have directed attention to the improved chances for enterprise in the Nox'thern Territory. This great tract of land in Northern Australia, sitxxated in the temperate and sub-tropical zones, comprises about 520,000 square nxiles, or an area nearly five times as large as that of England and Scotland. A great part of the vast, and almost empty, province — a rare possession in a white man's country — is fine cattle countrv. Hitherto, attemp'ts have

been made to develop it fox" othex' purposes by Government officialism, which has failed. Gold has been discovered in various parts, and prospecting companies now have their representatives searching for reefs of fabulous richness said to have been discovered by px'ospectox's who perished in the wilds. There are already stations in the Territory, including one at the Victoria River Downs, covering 20,000 square miles, held hy Bovril Estates, Limited. Other stations range from 3500 to 11,000 square miles. Great sums have been spent hy the Commonwealth Government in ittaking railroads, which at present represent heavy losses. The development of the beef industry- there needs capdtal to amounts that, in its present position, Australia canixot afford. Labour difficulties are no longer a barrier, the failure of the Government aS a conductor of business enterprise h'as been conclusively proved, and Australia would be glad to ineet capital with generous concessions. Much depends upon the rate of Ernpire preference for beef.