Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/177

 The Railway-Builders ADELAIDE AND VICINITY 151 was Attorney-General, and then Commissioner of Crown Lands, in the succeeding Ministry of Mr. T. Reynolds. He was Commissioner of Crown Lands and Immigration in the Waterhouse, Dutton, and Ayers (1865) Administrations; was a progressive politician, a clear thinker, and a man of fine judgment and discrimination. While a member of the Reynolds Ministry he adjudicated on the vexed question as to the ownership of the Moonta Mines, his decision being subsecjuently upheld by the court. He gave important encouragement to exploration, helped to initiate the State railway system, and introduced the measure providing for the construction of the overland telegraph line. As Mr. Strangways had defeated the Ayers Ministry on its land proposals, he was expected to disclo.se a better policy. Immediately on meeting Parliament he propounded a scheme which completely reformed the system under which Crown lands were sold, winning for himself from the Register the title of "The St. George of the Land Reformers." For some years the energy of farmers had been confined by the high prices they had to Port Adelaide in 1872 pay for new land. .Sales by auction of large areas admitted of land-jobbery. In bidding in the auction-room the poor farmer had no chance against the capitalist or pastoralist. Prom the foundation of the Province to 1868 the Government received an average of £ 5s. 6d. per acre for all lands sold. As the farmer was outbid in the auction-room, he frequently had to pay capitalists and land-jobbers from ^3 to ^10 an acre for this land. The State "profited nothing"; the "farmers and the country suffered greatly." Land suitable for agriculture was employed to feed a few sheep, because the farmer could not afford to pay the high price demanded. The Strangways Bill attacked this dragon-like monopoly, and was designed to throw new areas open to the agriculturist at a fair price and on credit. The debate in the House of Assembly was vigorous. On January 9, 1869, the Bill was sent to the Council, where 28 amendments were made, two of which imperilled the vital principle of the measure. At a conference appointed by both Houses a deadlock was averted, and on