New Land Regulation

For N. Guinea Soldier Settlement Scheme

BY a regulation, gazetted on July 23 (under that Government boon, National Security Regulations), Mr.

Ward, as the “appropriate Minister,” may declare any area in New Guinea or Papua an “area suitable for settlement of ex- Servicemen under the War Service Land Settlement Scheme.”

Once having declared an area “suitable” no land therein may be bought, sold or exchanged without the Commonwealth Treasurer’s sanction.

In addition to Papua, New Guinea, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory, all six States are covered by the regulation. t Commenting on the new ’measure, Mr.

Chifley said: “Consent to transactions in respect of a holding situated in a specified area would be given by the delegate of the Federal Treasurer only after he was advised by the land settlement authority of the State or Territory in which the land is situated, that the particular hold ing is not actually required for the settle ment scheme.”

He said that it had been considered that land suitable for soldier settlement had been acquired by private interests, and the Government had been asked by the various States and other organi sations, including the RSL, to take pre ventive action.

“It is essential that the costly mistakes of the soldier settlement scheme after the last war should be avoided, and it is necessary to ensure that a maximum number of suitable properties are avail able.”

This new regulation could give the Minister for External Territories a stranglehold on land transactions in the New Guinea Territories. Simply by de claring any area fit for soldier settle ment, all normal land transactions could be prohibited.

The Minister for External Territories has never showed any great concern for the welfare of the returned soldier before, nor was there any hint in the recent Papua-New Guinea Bill that Servicemen would be encouraged to settle in the Territories.

It is felt in some circles that this new regulation, therefore, is just another means taken by the present Socialistic Australian Government to keep rigid control of the Territories.