One of the most important, avd most debated questions which' have been before Parliament this session are those relating to railway construction. A bill has been brought forward and passed throughout its varied stages for the commencement of the North South railway, agreed to by the Deakin gov: ernment with South Australia on the taking over of the Northern Territory in 1907. South Australia has proved adamant as regards any deviation whatever from the agree: ment, even as regards the route taken, which has to be a straight Vine from coast to coast, from the port to Darwin on the Gulf of Cambridge or Tinnor Sea to the port of Port August on the Australian Bight. They care not an atom that it is paid for in part by other States, although serving only the North of Australia, known as the Territory proper, and themselves. One of the least populated of the States, they talk in grand-eloquent tones of populating The North, in a manner which reflects some little cgotiem. Not wishing to bring dishonour on the Commonwealth by the flouting of the agreement made, and realizing that the urgency of defence alone will in all probability force the construction of a railway from the Northern Territory through the outer areas Queensland and New South Wales approximate to their west
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.