WAR SERVICE LAND SETTLEMENT
AGREEMENT ACT.
Act No. 6, 1940.
An Act to approve and ratify an Agreement
between the Commonwealth of Australia
and the State of New South Wales in
relation to War Service Land Settlement:
and for purposes connected therewith.
[Assented to, 7th January, 1946.]
BE
it enacted by the King's Most Excellent Majesty,
by and with the advice and consent of the Legis­
lative Council and Legislative Assembly of New South
Wales in Parliament assembled, and by the authority of
the same, as follows :—
1. This Act may be cited as the " W a r Service Land
Settlement Agreement Act, 1945."
2 . The agreement, a copy of which is sot forth in the
Schedule to this Act, is hereby approved and ratified.
SCHEDULE.
AGREEMENT m a d e the t w e n t y - e i g h t h day of N o v e m b e r , o n e t h o u s a n d
n i n e h u n d r e d and forty-five, B E T W E E N T H E C O M M O N W E A L T H
O F A U S T R A L I A ( i n this a g r e e m e n t called " t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h " )
of t h e first p a r t a n d T H E S T A T E O F N E W S O U T H W A L E S
( i n tills a g r e e m e n t called " t h e S t a t e " ) of t h e second p a r t .
WHEREAS at a conference of C o m m o n w e a l t h a n d S t a t e M i n i s t e r s
at C a n b e r r a on t h e twenty-second day of A u g u s t , one t h o u s a n d n i n e
h u n d r e d a n d forty-five, c e r t a i n proposals were agreed to with a view
to the settlement on land in t h e S t a t e of discharged members of t h e
F o r c e s a n d other eligible p e r s o n s :
A N D WHEREAS it is expedient t h a t an a g r e e m e n t be m a d e b e t w e e n
t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h and t h e S t a t e in order t o c a r r y i n t o effect t h e s a i d
proposals:
N O W I T I S HEREBY AGREED as follows : —
1. T h i s a g r e e m e n t shall h a v e no force or effect a n d shall n o t b e
b i n d i n g on e i t h e r p a r t y unless a n d u n t i l i t is approved b y t h e
P a r l i a m e n t of t h e S t a t e .
2.
2. (1) I n t h i s a g r e e m e n t —
" a p p l i c a n t " m e a n s a person applying to p a r t i c i p a t e u n d e r
scheme;
the
" C r o w n l a n d " m e a n s Crown land as defined :n the l a n d laws
of t h e S t a t e ;
"eligible p e r s o n " means—
( a ) a discharged member of the Forces who has been
honorably discharged after not less t h a n six
m o n t h s ' war service, or h a v i n g , in t h e opinion of the
appropriate
State
authority,
been
materially
prejudiced by reason of his war service, has been
honorably discharged after less t h a n six m o n t h s '
w a r service; or
(b) a person included in a class of persons (if a n y )
which t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h w i t h t h e c o n c u r r e n c e of
t h e S t a t e d e t e r m i n e s shall be deemed eligible to
p a r t i c i p a t e in land s e t t l e m e n t u n d e r the scheme;
' ' h o l d i n g ' ' m e a n s t h e land allotted to a settler u n d e r the s c h e m e ;
" m e m b e r of t h e F o r c e s " has t h e same m e a n i n g as in section 4
of t h e Re-establishment and E m p l o y m e n t A c t , 1945, of the
Commonwealth;
" p r i v a t e l a n d " m e a n s all l a n d other t h a n Crown l a n d ;
" s e t t l e r " m e a n s a person who has been allotted a h o l d i n g u n d e r
the scheme;
" t h e s c h e m e " m e a n s the scheme of l a n d s e t t l e m e n t
i n t h i s agreement
contained
" t h e w a r " m e a n s the. war which commenced on t h e t h i r d day of
September, one t h o u s a n d n i n e h u n d r e d a n d t h i r t y - n i n e , and
includes any other war in which H i s Majesty became engaged
after t h a t date and before the d a t e of t h i s a g r e e m e n t ;
" w a r service" has the same m e a n i n g as in p a r a g r a p h s ( a ) , ( b ) ,
( c ) , ( d ) , a n d (e) of the definition of " W a r service" in
section 4 of t h e Re-establishment and E m p l o y m e n t Act 3 9-15
of the. C o m m o n w e a l t h .
( 2 ) F o r t h e purposes of t h i s agreement, a member of the Forces
who has ceased to be engaged on war service shall be deemed to have
been discharged.
S. L a n d s e t t l e m e n t u n d e r t h e scheme shall be carried out in
accordance w i t h t h e following p r i n c i p l e s : —
( a ) S e t t l e m e n t shall be u n d e r t a k e n only where economic
prospects for t h e production concerned a r e reasonably sound,
a n d t h e n u m b e r of eligible persons to be settled shall be
d e t e r m i n e d p r i m a r i l y by o p p o r t u n i t i e s for s e t t l e m e n t a n d n o :
by t h e n u m b e r of applicants.
(b) A p p l i c a n t s shall not be selected as settlers unless a competent
a u t h o r i t y is satisfied as to t h e i r eligibility, suitability a n d
qualifications for s e t t l e m e n t u n d e r t h e scheme a n d their
experience of farmwork.
(c)
(c) H o l d i n g s shall be sufficient i n size to enable settlers to
o p e r a t e efficiently a n d to e a r n a reasonable labour i n c o m e .
( d ) A n eligible, p e r s o n deemed s u i t a b l e for s e t t l e m e n t shall n o t
be p r e c l u d e d from s e t t l e m e n t by reason only of lack of
capital, b u t a settler will be expected to invest i n t h e h o l d i n g
such proportion of his own financial a n d other resources as is
considered
reasonable
in the
circumstances
by
the
appropriate State authority.
(e) A d e q u a t e g u i d a n c e a n d t e c h n i c a l advice shall be m a d e
available to settlers t h r o u g h a g r i c u l t u r a l extension services.
4. (1) T h e C o m m o n w e a l t h shall i n t h e c a r r y i n g o u t of t h e scheme
provide financial a n d other assistance as is h e r e i n a f t e r set forth.
( 2 ) T h e S t a t e shall i n i t i a t e proposals for s e t t l e m e n t u n d e r t h e
scheme b u t t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h m a y i n i t i a t e proposals where these
a r e directly associated w i t h a n y m a t t e r i n respect of which t h e
C o m m o n w e a l t h h a s power to m a k e laws.
5. T h e S t a t e shall provide capital m o n e y s r e q u i r e d for the purpose,
of a c q u i r i n g , developing a n d i m p r o v i n g l a n d for s e t t l e m e n t u n d e r a n d
i n accordance w i t h t h e t e r m s of t h i s a g r e e m e n t .
6. ( 1 ) T h e S t a t e shall bear t h e cost of all S t a t e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of
t h e scheme.
( 2 ) T h e S t a t e shall m a k e a c a p i t a l c o n t r i b u t i o n i n respect of
each h o l d i n g of a n a m o u n t equal to one half of t h e excess of t h e
total cost involved in a c q u i r i n g , developing a n d i m p r o v i n g t h e h o l d i n g
over t h e s u m of v a l u a t i o n s of t h e l a n d a n d i m p r o v e m e n t s .
(3) T h e a m o u n t of capital c o n t r i b u t i o n to be d e t e r m i n e d i n
accordance w i t h t h e last preceding subclause shall, if r e q u i r e d by a
S t a t e , be separately a n d i n d e p e n d e n t l y assessed i n respect of l a n d
and improvements.
(4) T h e v a l u a t i o n s referred to i n subclause (2) of t h i s clause
shall be m a d e by officers appointed by t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h a n d S t a t e
i n c o n s u l t a t i o n for t h e purpose.
( 5 ) I n m a k i n g t h e v a l u a t i o n s , t h e officers shall have r e g a r d t o
t h e n e e d for t h e proceeds of t h e h o l d i n g (based on conservative
e s t i m a t e s over a l o n g - t e r m period of prices a n d yields for p r o d u c t s )
b e i n g sufficient to provide a reasonable l i v i n g for t h e settler after
m e e t i n g such financial c o m m i t m e n t s ( e x c l u d i n g p r i n c i p a l r e p a y m e n t s
u n d e r a n y a g r e e m e n t between t h e S t a t e a n d t h e settler for t h e
p u r c h a s e of l a n d ) as would be i n c u r r e d by a settler possessing n o
capital.
(6) W h e r e s e t t l e m e n t is on Crown l a n d or a c q u i r e d leasehold
land, a n a m o u n t t o be agreed upon between t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h a n d
t h e S t a t e shall be included in t h e t o t a l cost referred to i n subclause
( 2 ) of t h i s clause to cover t h e S t a t e ' s i n t e r e s t in t h e l a n d .
( 7 ) T h e S t a t e shall bear one-half of t h e cost involved i n t h e
remission of r e n t a n d i n t e r e s t d u r i n g t h e assistance period referred
to i n clause 13 of t h i s a g r e e m e n t .
( 8 ) T h e S t a t e shall bear one-half of a n y losses (to be assessed on
a basis t o be agreed u p o n by t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h a n d t h e S t a t e )
i n c u r r e d by t h e S t a t e in p u r s u a n c e of a r r a n g e m e n t s m a d e i n
accordance w i t h clause 15 of this a g r e e m e n t .
(9)
( 9 ) T h e S t a t e shall, subject to clause 7 of t h i s a g r e e m e n t , be
responsible for all other costs a r i s i n g directly from s e t t l e m e n t u n d e r
t h e scheme.
7. ( 1 ) T h e C o m m o n w e a l t h shall bear t h e cost of
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of t h e scheme.
Commonwealth
(2) T h e C o m m o n w e a l t h shall provide t r a i n i n g a n d
a p p l i c a n t s selected for t r a i n i n g l i v i n g allowances a n d
t r a n s p o r t a n d o t h e r expenses i n c i d e n t a l t o t h e i r t r a i n i n g .
( 3 ) T h e C o m m o n w e a l t h shall
settlers d u r i n g t h e assistance period
a g r e e m e n t a n d meet one-half of t h e
of r e n t a n d i n t e r e s t p r o v i d e d for i n
pay t o
certain
provide l i v i n g allowances for
referred to i n clause 13 of t h i s
costs involved i n t h e remission
t h a t clause.
( 4 ) T h e C o m m o n w e a l t h shall m a k e a capital c o n t r i b u t i o n i n
respect of each h o l d i n g of a n a m o u n t equal t o one-half of t h e excess
r e f e r r e d to in subclause (2) of clause C of t h i s a g r e e m e n t .
( 5 ) T h e C o m m o n w e a l t h shall bear one-half of t h e losses referred
t o in subclause (8) of clause 6 of t h i s a g r e e m e n t .
8. A n y excess of t h e t o t a l cost involved i n a c q u i r i n g developing
a n d i m p r o v i n g t h e h o l d i n g over t h e v a l u a t i o n s m a d e i n accordance
w i t h t h e provisions of clause C of t h i s a g r e e m e n t shall be w r i t t e n off
a n d those v a l u a t i o n s shall, unless otherwise agreed by t h e
C o m m o n w e a l t h and the S t a t e , be accepted for t h e purpose of a p p l y i n g
t h e t e r m s a n d conditions r e l a t i n g to t e n u r e of l a n d m a d e available
for s e t t l e m e n t u n d e r t h i s a g r e e m e n t .
9. A l l financial m a t t e r s r e l a t i n g and i n c i d e n t a l to the c a r r y i n g o u t
of t h e scheme shall be a r r a n g e d i n a m a n n e r satisfactory to t h e
T r e a s u r e r of t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h a n d t h e T r e a s u r e r of t h e S t a t e .
10. T h e following procedure shall be observed i n connexion w i t h
t h e approval of proposals for s e t t l e m e n t u n d e r t h e scheme b r o u g h t
forward by t h e S t a t e : —
( a ) A f t e r t h e S t a t e h a s selected s u c h l a n d as appears s u i t a b l e
for s e t t l e m e n t it shall i m m e d i a t e l y t a k e all practicable a n d
necessary m e a s u r e s to prevent t h e l a n d or a n y p a r t thereof
b e i n g dealt w i t h otherwise t h a n as is provided i n t h i s
agreement.
( b ) T h e S t a t e shall s u b m i t to t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h
certain
i n f o r m a t i o n t o be agreed upon by t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h a n d
t h e S t a t e a n d shall confer with t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h t o
d e t e r m i n e whether a detailed survey of t h e l a n d is r e q u i r e d ,
a n d , if both t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h a n d t h e S t a t e agree t h a t a
detailed survey is required, t h i s will be u n d e r t a k e n by t h e
S t a t e w i t h t h e assistance where necessary of relevant
C o m m o n w e a l t h a u t h o r i t i e s : P r o v i d e d t h a t if, before t h e fifth
d a y of October, one t h o u s a n d n i n e h u n d r e d a n d forty-four,
t h e S t a t e had selected l a n d for s e t t l e m e n t and completed or
s u b s t a n t i a l l y completed all surveys thereof
considered
necessary by t h e Commonwealth, t h e S t a t e m a y i m m e d i a t e l y
s u b m i t t h e proposals i n t h e m a n n e r provided in t h e n e x t
succeeding p a r a g r a p h and no f u r t h e r survey of t h e l a n d shall
be r e q u i r e d .
M
(c)
(c) T h e S t a t e shall s u b m i t to t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h details of
proposals for s e t t l e m e n t i n c l u d i n g plans a n d such p a r t i c u l a r s
r e l a t i n g to t h e proposed subdivision, development a n d use
of t h e l a n d as t h e S t a t e a n d t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h agree upon.
( d ) T h e C o m m o n w e a l t h a n d t h e S t a t e shall confer o n each
proposal a n d decide w h e t h e r it should be accepted, e i t h e r
w i t h or w i t h o u t a l t e r a t i o n or modification, as an approved
p l a n of s e t t l e m e n t .
11. (1) T h e S t a t e shall—
( a ) set a p a r t or r e s u m e as t h e case m a y be, for s e t t l e m e n t such
l a n d comprised i n an approved p l a n of s e t t l e m e n t as is
Crown l a n d ; a n d
( b ) a c q u i r e compulsorily or by a g r e e m e n t and a t a value not
exceeding t h a t r u l i n g on t h e t e n t h day of F e b r u a r y , one
t h o u s a n d n i n e h u n d r e d a n d forty-two, p r i v a t e l a n d or l a n d s
held u n d e r lease from t h e Crown comprised i n an approved
plan of settlement.
(2) T h e S t a t e shall subdivide develop a n d improve t h e l a n d t o
a stage where it can be b r o u g h t i n t o production by a settler w i t h i n
a reasonable t i m e h a v i n g r e g a r d to the type of p r o d u c t i o n proposed.
12. T h e following principles shall be. adhered to
selecting a n d s e t t l i n g a p p l i c a n t s u n d e r t h e s c h e m e : —
in
training,
( a ) A m e m b e r of t h e forces while still engaged on w a r service
m a y , if p e r m i t t e d to apply for l a n d u n d e r a n y law of t h e
S t a t e d e a l i n g w i t h t h e s e t t l e m e n t of servicemen on t h e l a n d
in force, p r i o r to t h e fifth day of October, one t h o u s a n d n i n e
h u n d r e d a n d forty-four, apply to p a r t i c i p a t e u n d e r t h e
scheme, b u t he shall n o t be eligible t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n any
concessions to which t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h is r e q u i r e d t o
c o n t r i b u t e a n y p a r t of t h e cost u n t i l he h a s ceased t o be
engaged on w a r service a n d has been classified as suitable
for s e t t l e m e n t i n accordance w i t h t h e provisions of p a r a g r a p h
(c) of t h i s clause.
(b) A n eligible person m a y apply to p a r t i c i p a t e
scheme not more t h a n five years after—
under
the
( i ) t h e fifteenth d a y of A u g u s t , one t h o u s a n d n i n e
h u n d r e d a n d forty-five; or
( i i ) t h e d a t e w h e n he ceased to be engaged on war
service,
whichever is t h e later.
( c ) A n a p p l i c a n t for s e t t l e m e n t shall apply to t h e a p p r o p r i a t e
State
authority
which
shall
on
behalf
of
the
Commonwealth—
(i) d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r
person; and
an
applicant
is
an
eligible
( i i ) classify
eligible
persons
as
suitable
(either
i m m e d i a t e l y or after t r a i n i n g or f u r t h e r experience)
or as u n s u i t a b l e for settlement.
(d)
( d ) "Where t r a i n i n g or f u r t h e r experience is considered desirable
by t h e S t a t e a u t h o r i t y it shall be provided m a i n l y by
employment with f a r m e r s approved by t h e S t a t e a u t h o r i t y .
13. (1) T h e r e m a y be granted* to a settler d u r i n g t h e period of one
y e a r n e x t following t h e allotment of a h o l d i n g to h i m ( h e r e i n a f t e r
referred to as " t h e assistance p e r i o d " ) a living allowance at such
r a t e a n d subject to such conditions as m a y be fixed by t h e
Commonwealth.
(2) D u r i n g the assistance period t h e settler shall not be
r e q u i r e d to pay any r e n t or i n t e r e s t i n respect of t h e h o l d i n g or to
m a k e any p a y m e n t s on account of p r i n c i p a l or i n t e r e s t in respect
of advances (other t h a n advances for w o r k i n g c a p i t a l ) m a d e u n d e r
clause 15 of this a g r e e m e n t .
(3) I n special c i r c u m s t a n c e s and u p o n conditions approved by
t h e Commonwealth, f u r t h e r assistance m a y in any p a r t i c u l a r case be
e x t e n d e d beyond t h e said period of one year.
14. (1) T h e n e t proceeds of t h e h o l d i n g d u r i n g t h e assistance
period shall be p a i d to an a u t h o r i t y prescribed by t h e S t a t e a n d
credited by t h a t a u t h o r i t y a g a i n s t f u t u r e obligations of t h e settler i n
respect of advances for stock, p l a n t a n d e q u i p m e n t , a n d i m p r o v e m e n t s ,
and in respect of r e n t or interest on l a n d i n a p r o p o r t i o n to be
d e t e r m i n e d by t h e a u t h o r i t y .
(2) A t least one-half of t h e proceeds shall be credited
f u t u r e obligations in respect of stock, p l a n t and e q u i p m e n t .
to
(3) T h e a u t h o r i t y m a y , in any p a r t i c u l a r case, waive t h e
r e q u i r e m e n t s of the last two preceding subclauses, if, in its opinion,
the c i r c u m s t a n c e s of the case are such t h a t it is desirable to do so.
(4) W h e r e v e r practicable t h e whole of a settler's finances
r e l a t i n g to his s e t t l e m e n t u n d e r t h e scheme shall be controlled b y one
authority.
T h e a u t h o r i t y shall record separately a n y advances i n
respect of which t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h u n d e r t h i s a g r e e m e n t accepts
a n y liability in the. event of loss.
15. (1) T h e S t a t e shall m a k e such a r r a n g e m e n t s as m a y be
approved by t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h for t h e m a k i n g of advances to
settlers, upon such conditions as m a y be agreed upon between t h e
C o m m o n w e a l t h and the S t a t e , for the purpose of p r o v i d i n g working
capital a n d p a y i n g for a n d effecting i m p r o v e m e n t s a n d a c q u i r i n g
stock, p l a n t a n d e q u i p m e n t .
(2) T h e a r r a n g e m e n t s referred to in subclause (1) of
clause m a y include t h e g i v i n g of g u a r a n t e e s by the. S t a t e .
this
16. I n t h e event of t h e settler not b e i n g able to meet all his c u r r e n t
obligations u n d e r t h e scheme such a m o u n t s as a r e received from t h e
settler shall be applied to his obligations i n respect of advances for
w o r k i n g capital, stock, p l a n t or e q u i p m e n t , i m p r o v e m e n t s , r e n t or
interest on any balance o u t s t a n d i n g on the purchase, p r i c e of t h e land,
i n t h e order i n which t h e obligations are set o u t i n this clause.
17.
17. The form and conditions of tenure on which a holding is to heheld by a settler shall be determined by the State.
I N "WITNESS whereof the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth
and the Premier of the State have hereunto set their hands the day
and year first above written.
S I G N E D BY THE PRIME MINISTER \
OF THE COMMONWEALTH for (^
j
p
and on behalf of the Common- j
wealth in the presence of— /
F.
STRAIIAN.
S I G N E D BY THE PREMIER OF THE
STATE for and on behalf of
the State, in the presence of—
-T. W.
W. J. McKELL.
FERGUSON,
Under Secretary, Premier's Department,
Sydney.