RETURNED SOLDIERS ON THE LAND

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3149, 30 July 1917, Page 6

RETURNED SOLDIERS ON THE LAND

SETTLEMENT PROBLEMS.

The settling of returned soldiers o.tt the land forms the subject of an interesting letter addressed to Mr. J. M. Dickson, M.P., by Mr. A. Fletcher Rattray,, managing director of the Cromwell Development Co., Ltd., and a member off tho Dunedin Soldiers' Committte. Mr. Dickson is submitting the letter to the Prime Minister, the Hon. A. L. Herdman, Minister in Charge of the Returned. Soldiers' Department, and the Hons. WFraset and G. W. Russell, whilst the. other Otago members of Parliament arei interesting themselves in the matter. Mr. Rattray, v;ho has just come back: from a visit to Australia, states that not 23 per cent, of the 6oldier6 returned to the island 'continent have any desire to go on the land apart from those already connected with it. In Canada not 3 per cent, have gone on the land. Here, as a member of the Dunedin Soldiers' Committee, he can say positively; that very few have an inclination that way unless under most favourable conditions, and they 6eem to expect a great deal to be done for them, preferring to hang round the city while they have any money. In cutting up big estates into blocks of, 6ay, two or three thousand acres for farms for soldiers, Mr. Rattray thinks that the question of a majority making a success is -not only questionable, but distinctly improbable, as comparatively few, he says, will have the experience to niako the required success. The small capital advanced is not sufficient to enable them to hang on long enough, and it is quite probable, unless further provision be made, that a great number of these farms will fall back; into the hands of the Government, thua, frustrating the intended object.

Mr. Rattray puts forward the idea of? taking a portion of these big estates, not ■ the.whole, cut them into smaller farms, and by an arrangement with tho owner of the estate get him to supervise, through his manager, and a Government inspector to periodically report to the Department. This idea was under consideration in Australia. Smaller farms, or rather mixed farming, t \u\\ attract, according to Mr. Rattray, a number or the men, and the suggestion is to have these in groups under a responsible and practical superintendent. A soldiers' cooperative settlement could be formed, and the men thus mutually, assist one another in making a success individually and collectively.

Orchard farms, combined with or with-* out poultry farming, have been suggest-" ed, but Mr. Rattray considers that this method of repatriation cannot be done successfully without experienco or expert advice.

Mr. Rattray states that there are many irrigation settlements along the Murray River, in Australia, for orcharding anct small mixed farming, and ho states that at Auckland, Nelson, and Central Otngrj "schemes similar to these are carried on under expert advice. Not only that, but trees N several years planted are already occupying portions of each block with, part not planted, which conld be used for growing small fruits, vegetables, etc., till the frnit of the larger trees comes to profit. suggests that these public; or private companies bo communicated with with the object of ascertaining the conditions, and if satisfactory arrangements are made to secure portions of the for a soldier settlement, which 'will, of x course, be in charge of a supervisor, who will co-operate with each company's expert in making a collective success of the scheme on a co-operative basis. Where fruit trees are not planted, he says, arrangements could be made with the company to plant suitable trees so as to be ready for the ru6h of soldiers which must eventuate after the war. This, he says, would allow them to take up a property that is a going concern, not bare land that will have to ho T>nt in onler and take the heart out of them before they start. To the'abovs he wonld add a honse, and ho suggests that married men have the preference.