MILITARY SETTLEMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2501, 30 June 1915, Page 4

MILITARY SETTLEMENTS.

Sir,—Jinny of our men' at the front and also those in camp —likewise future volunteers—have no stake in New Zealand in the way of land. As suggested by "Fcmiua," it would bo only a fair thing if provision were made to remedy this: I'or the past two or three months I have been sounding men who had already registered, or intended to do- so, as lo their ideas 011 the subject, and almost unanimously tliey approved of the idea of each province providing a block of land for the purpose of providing a home for the returned ones who required it. An idea which I have partly worked out is as follows: (Ist) That either the Government, or, preferably, the people of each province should acquire a block (or blocks) of unimproved or only partly improved land. Camps should bo erected, where men who had registered but who were not required immediately at Trent-ham. could proceed to, and go to work bushfalling, scrub-cutting, draining, stumping, fencing, or any other improvement that might be necessary. They could put in half-time at this work at current rate of wages, and devote the balance to elementary drill. Work with the axe, slasher, and spade, and explosives would be good training, especially for town boys, and the knowlodsc that they were providing a home for"ihcniselves would be an additional incentive to put m good work. Gifts of cattle, sheep, and other stock would, i ani sure, flow in, and the revenue from such settlements would go a long way lo relieving the pension problem. The question of title could be left in ibej-..

auee —giving each returned soldier a life | ilitefeat and share in the revenue, and in tlio event of marriage (which should be encouraged) the right to extend to the children up to, say, fifteen years. Tho system of giving soldiers JO-aero grants after tho Maori war Was by no means a success. Tho scheme may savour of Socialism or communism, or some other "ism," but judging from my own feelings as one of the landlessones, and the opinions of men who aro going to the front, tlio knowledge that tv homo among comrades was assured would be much appreciated. Personally, I am over age (with defective eyesight) for tho front, but should bo quite prepared to put in, say, threo months' free work on any of the proposed farms. Hoping that more able men will take up the idea, and knock it into practical shape—l am, etc., ARTHUR J. CARR. Tawataia, Juno 26, 1915.