SOUTH AUSTRALIAN PARLIa MERIT.

Te Aroha News, Volume VIII, Issue 487, 9 July 1890, Page 5

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN PARLIa MERIT.

A panic was caused in the South Australian Assembly last week by the Commissioner ior Crown Lands, Mr Howe, informing the House that the contingent liabilities in connection with payment for squatters’ improvements under the Act of 1884, would be nearly £3,000,000. It w'as only by accident that he made the discovery. He had occasion to interview the Surveyor-General, who gave him this intelligence, which astonished and startled him as much as it could any lion, member of the House. Up till now he had shared the general opinion that the outstanding liabilities for compensation for improvements could not amount to more than £IOO,OOO. Members were absolutely stiuck dumb by this statement, until one or two rose and said they hoped there was some mistake with regard to these liabilities, which, if real, utterly dwarfed the existing 'deficit of £1,000,000. Mr Playford, the leader of the Opposition, said he trusted and believed that there was some mistake, as he could nob believe that the squatters had recently expended between £2,000,000 and £3,000,000 on permanent improvements. Mr Howe, in reply, said the figures had been carefully prepared by the Surveyor-General. He allowed that matters were very serious, and he considered that means should be taken to abrogate the law of 1884, under which compensation is claimed, even if an especially long tenure had to be granted to the squatters in exchange. (Cheers.) It would be necessary to place an additional £250,000 on the next loan in order to meet immediate demands ' for compensation. (Sensation.)