"ECONOMIC SOLDIERS."

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 217, 13 September 1930, Page 12

"ECONOMIC SOLDIERS."

CADET SETTLEMENT SCHEME.

USE OF MILITARY CAMPS.

LAND LEAGUE'S PROPOSALS

"With the,proposals of the present Government to suspend the operations of the Defence Act,'we are coming into line with the more or leas general sentiment throughout the world that the rights and properties of nations must be retained by economic utilisation rather than by force of arms," states . a report on , "juvenile settlement/' presented by X. G. Gribble, secretary pf the' Land Settlement League, at a meeting of the league yesterday. "It becomes'incumbent upon us. as \a nation to realise this, and in conjunction with other parts of the Empire to ensure that ■we have a stalwart army of 'economic soldiers' coming along as a first line of defence. Unquestionably in New , Zealand -this means a regular, growing supply of vigorous, qualified young farmers going into some branch of agriculture." Thousands of boys would be leaving! school; within the next few months with the desire of going on the land, , said Mr. Gribble. Prospects for farm . workers were at present most unattractive, and an organised scheme for placing boys on the land was national need. In the past New Zealand had spent millions on the military training of its youth, but little on its. economic training. The league's scheme involved a system of cadet camps where boys would undergo five years ojr skilled training in agriculture, at the end of which period they would be given an opportunity to start out on their own under group settlement scheme. It was estimated that 1000 3'oung farmers could thus be set on their feet, at a , cost of not more than £1,000,000, and many others would be attracted through the ordinary channels. Mr. Holdsworth said that the Mental Hospital would be vacating, its grounds at Avondale within a few years, and the military :camp ground at Hopuhopu would also be vofy suitable. Camps could bo started on both of those sites at a very email initial cost.

A similar scheme had already been adopted til America, , said Mr. Gribbic. A charter, known as the Future Farmeos' Charter, had.been granted to 35 States, and. schools had beeii organised along the lines of the adult classes which had proved so successful in Denmark. ■' - ; . The secretary's : report wae- adopted,