OPENING UP THE LAND 133 



The Australian states and New Zealand retain 

 the ownership of the beds of streams and a strip 

 of the land on either side. Thus no community is 

 ever in danger of being held in bondage by the 

 owners of riparian rights and much costly litigation 

 is avoided.^ 



Irrigation settlement in Victoria is entirely under 

 government control. The state has built the weirs, 

 reservoirs, canals, channels, etc. The water, bed, 

 and banks of streams are exempt from alienation 

 forever. Fortunately the state established this 

 policy before private companies had a chance to 

 lay claim to these lands. West Australia has car- 

 ried out a very large and successful water-supply 

 scheme costing nearly $15,000,000.2 



The Australian theory with regard to mineral 

 lands is that they belong to the state and it does 

 not part with them. Coal lands are leased, not 

 sold. The output of the mines is not taxed, the 

 state contenting itself with indirect returns. The 

 lessee must fulfil certain requirements in working 

 the mines and must employ a certain amount of 

 labor. He is not permitted to hold the lands idle 

 until his neighbors develop the surrounding terri- 

 tory; and if he postpones working his mines he for- 

 feits his lease. The state receives its returns in the 

 settlement of a larger population in the district, 



^ Elwood Mead, Metropolitan Magazine, January, 1917. 

 ^ Victorian Agriculture, Thomas Cherry, p. 264. 



