[?]at Commonwealth
pp. 163-164 · Read in the full issue
[?] Government [?] ers
[?]at Commonwealth [?]and in Hebrides
ILY this year, when PIM was athering data for an article on le New Hebrides (February (p. 95)), some questions were ssed to the Department of rial Affairs, Canberra, acknowledgment or reply was ed and the matter was for i until early June when a arrived. A little late perhaps, le questions and replies may be nterest to New Hebrides nts: Approximate acreage of land st owned by the Australasian Hebrides Company, and later urns Philp & Co. and made to the Australian Common i Government about 1902? he acreage of land held in by Burns Philp & Co. on be of the Commonwealth Gov mt in 1902 would be approxi y 50,000 acres. It is stressed ;his is an approximate figure nd having regard to the mode limitation of the acres in on.
How much of this land now ses clear titles? A: Some acres.
How much is now actually cultivation or in use? A: eply was given to this ques low many tenants are occupy • leasing parts of this land?
Bow much rent is being col from all of this land? A: ximately £l2O per annum.
What is the approximate cost mum in recent years of ad ering this land? A: There is parate vote. Any Common l expense in relation to the is defrayed in the ordinary of the administration of this ;ment. \ve the titles of any portion is land currently being in ted, and if not, when did such gations cease? A: The last ents to be handed down on ition for title to land were at the end of 1954. is any of the land currently Jr for sale or lease? A: The at all times on offer for lease om time to time prospective s approach this Department.
Vhat is the approximate value the whole of the land? A: impossible to estimate a i this letter it is evident that is a good deal of confusion just how much land was in- Burns Philp’s own records to show that 41,000 acres taken over by them from bringing their total holdings : time to about 125,000 acres, apartment’s letter would seem
to indicate that Burns Philp Co. transferred to Commonwes ownership only the ex-ANHC lj and not their entire holdings.
Comment on other points rai in the correspondence by l Hebrides residents should be teresting.