WHY CANADA GOES AHEAD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7813, 4 June 1909, Page 4

WHY CANADA GOES AHEAD.

During his recent trip abroad Mr Archibanld Clark, of Auckland, who has just returned after a year's absence, was particularly struck with the facilities offered by the Canadian Government to settlers, m contrast to the system that obtains m New Zealand. "In Canada/ said Mr Clark to a New Zealand Herald representative, ."the Government offers land to 'home-, steaders' m areas of 160 acres each. They give the freehold at the- end of three years, and the total fee charged is 10 dollars. Those taking up the lands have to erect a small house, and effect a given amount of improvements, such as fencing and laying n certain area m grass. Hundreds of thousands of people are flocking into the country, both from Europe and Anierica. I was very much impressed with Canada. Last year was a record one, as to the output, and .when I was there m the spring (June and July) there was every indication m the enormous crops of wheat and oats, that it would be a record. I could not help observing the facilities given to settlers there, and contrasting them with the Dominion, where we have such a vast area of unoccupied land m the hands of the Government, and practically m the hands of the natives. Whilst, like other old colonists, I do not want to see any injustice done to the natives, I certainly think the time has arrived for some method to be adopted of opening these lands for settlement. I have two sons who have taken up land m Canada, and when I spoke to them of returning to New Zealand— which it was their original intention to do—they said that from what they could learn of the state of affairs here, they had better prospects for the immediate future m Canada. Since that time both my sons have taken up further holdings under purchase."