LAND SETTLEMENT AND RETURNED SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2683, 1 February 1916, Page 6

LAND SETTLEMENT AND RETURNED SOLDIERS

<, (To the Editor.) Sir, —Among the applicants for land at the conclusion of the w'ar, when the troops return, will probably be found men possessing various degrees of farming knowledge but little or no capital, and in some eases their knowledge of farming may not largely exceed their lack of capital. The key to successful settlement will therefore be tho provision of instruction, supervision, and facilities for finance. The following scheme, while providing such, would permit of considerable persona! freedom, and the free use of individual brains and energies, which things are desirable.

A considerable block of improved land ready for immediate settlement would be opened for ballot among returned soldiers, approved by a special board elected to examine applicants as to their fitness for such life. An estates office would be opened on or near the block, and a competent manager or agent placed in charge. Each settler would pay 5 per cent, interest on the value of the land. The necessary financial assistance for working and stocking would be provided for the settler upon tho estates agent approving of tlie scheme set forth by the settler. The settler would olso pay 5 per cent, upon this capital. All purchases, sales, and payments would have to be made through the estates office, or with the approval of the estates agent. The settler's share of the revenues would be constituted by the balance of profit remaining after deducting the interest on the land value. The moneys advanced with interest- added for the payment of labour, seeds, etc., and a charge for depreciation of implements, etc. "With the exception of the interest upon moneys advanced, the estates office would not seek to make profit for itself out of the transactions of- tho settlers, but would be run entirely for the benefit and interest of the settlers, and. in order to overlook tho expenditure of moneys advanced for working and stocking tho farms. An acreage rate would be struck annually, which would go towards defraying the expenses of the estates office. The duties of the estates office would be:— To superintend tho finance of the upon the estate. To keep itself informed upon tho working of the various farms constituting the estate.

To afford practical advice to all settlers upon the estate in need of it. To induce the settlers to co-operate both in buying and selling. To endeavour to find the best markets in which to sell or buy. To attend to the advertising, if necessary, of the products of the estate. To take ail active part in all matters likely to afl'cct the interests of the settlers upon the estate. Settlement under such a schemo could he initiated through the Government having improved'land suitable for close settlement co-operating with patriotic societies having available funds, or by the Government co-operating with financial patriotic societies in England desirous of advancing colonial settlement by British emigrants, troops, otc., or by private landowners desirous of selling their estates, who might themselves finance the schemc, or co-operate with other bodies willing to do so. In such a manner many men having a sufficiency of knowledge, hut an insufficiency of capital would bo enabled to settlo upon the land, and a great impetus would bo thereby given to co-operation and fo the volume of trade in this Dominion. Tills is merely an outline of portion of .a scheme of land settlement. It :s:not necessary to tako up your sjiaco on uhe present occasion with the entire scheme, —I am, etc., •QttOOKOO