Please wait. Contacting image service... loading

Article text

COMMISSIONER OF CROWN LANDS
IN THE NORTH.
The Commissioner of Crown Lands, accom- <*>
panied by the Hon. A. Catt, M.P., and Mr
E. A. Roberts, M.P., left Adelaide by the
evening train for the north last Friday. ' On
Saturday they -visited the hundred of Howe
and inspected many farmers' and blocfcerf
holdings. Xhe setticx? held a meeting; jjnd
a'fterwardaMessrs. Cattand?oberteintroduoed
a. deputation to Mr. CLoughlin, which pre
sented resolutions—" That in order to sacoess
fnlly settle. the hundred of Howe ?? fwther
reduction of rent is Absolutely necessary f
and that facilities Bbould be gireh^itoj
lessees to increase the size of their holdings" j
The deputation pointed oat that after five
years' experience they had ascertained
that the land was not so good for cropping as i
they had expected, and it was impossible to
live .on &tzch p**"l^ holdings &s 150- and 200
acres—only a lew being"* litfle larger. The
Commissioner, who. sympathised -with the
deputation'in/the had times experienced,,
said he knew* this land before any blockera
went on-it, aad'yns surpriMod that wheat
growing, had turned out so badly. Concern
ing a further tednctian—each' settler would
have to make *" '.individual application,
as the tents 'bad been considered and
cat down by the Surveyor -General.
AH he could promise was .that if each,
settler made an application he would, if bo
thought it desirable, senditontotiie Surveyor-
GeneraL With regard to inoreaainK the tin'
of the holdings, he reoogsised the diffioaltias
under which they labored,.and -as far aspos
sible would fsrilitatf* the transference to each
other of certain areas. The deputation had
also asked for a remission of the overdue rent,
and in reply Mr.-6'Lougfalin ?t?ted that that
was not in his power to grant.' The Commis-'
sioner returned to the city on ?Monday mom
ing* - ?
$