BOLIVIA.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 6 April 1926, Page 2

BOLIVIA.

A WONDERFUL COUNTRY. GREAT AGRICULTURAL POSSIBILITIES. Oil and mineral rights in ten million acres ol : land have been obtained by a British company from the South American Republic of Bolivia. The company lias also secured concessions on 30,0U0,U00 acres of agricultural land and virgin forest-—a large portion of tlie ancient dominions of tno incas—with the right of building roads, railways, ports and- factorial, importing and exporting all commodities, duty free, l'or 25 years, and permission to control tlie settlement of '3OOO European families a year for five years. Bolivia is the homo of rubber. It has great oil deposits, and its climate, described as “eternal spring” in the eastern portion, is suitable for almost every crop.

Mr Liloe-Gangen, a Norwegian born in England, who is a managing director! of the syndicate, gave details of the enterprise in London recently with as much composure as if he were planning a small retail shop. Ho explained that the development of this virgin territory has only been made possible by a treaty with Brazil, which enables Bolvia to use the river Paraguay as an outlet and an inlet for its trade.

“There are 300,000 square miles of land eminently suited for agriculture in Eastern Bolivia,” said Mr LilloeFangen, “and it is in this area that wc liavo been granted 30,000,000 acres of agricultural land freehold in perpetuity. Everything that is needed could easily be grown, and enormous quantities of sugar, coffee, cocoa, rubber and wheat could be exported. Thousands of wild cattle roam tho plains. “Bolivia lias no seaports, • but the eastern portion is served by the river Paraguay, which is navigable foil vessels of 2000 tons to Corumba, 1500 miles from Buenos Aires. Tho rich region to the north has remained undeveloped until now because the Brazilian Government refused the use of tho river to Bolivia, but that difficulty lias been removed by treaty, and we shall operate steamers under tho Bolivian flag. ■ i “Famous exports who have examined the oilfields of Bolivia are of opinion that the largest oilfields of tlio world are to be found there. Under our concession we have lour years to select 10,000,000 acres anywhere we like in the three provinces of Santa Cruz, Cliuquisaca and Tarija. “There will ho many openings m theso vast regions for settlers who can provide tho purchase money for thenland. The company is interested in two farms in Cambridgeshire, and it is their intention to train settlers there in tropical agriculture before sending them out to Bolivia, where they will be under tho supervision of experts. “In return for tho concessions we have obtained, we undertook to build a port, construct 60 miles of railway, and install a wireless station, sawmills and factories. . “Tho Government liavo only granted tho company these enormous concessions to induce British capital to the country as a counter-action to the wide American interests. As impoits and exports arc to be duty free for 25 years, we shall be able to compete against anv country in tch world. . “Opportunities for British exports in the future seem illimitable. ihere is no reason why the country should not support 100,000,000 people, and why agricultural machinery, steel rails, rolling stock and everything needed in opening up a now country should not come from Britain.”