LAND SETTLEMENT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 275, 16 August 1919, Page 7

LAND SETTLEMENT

« ' R.S.A. PROPOSALS BIG BLOCK OFFERED BY THE MVliliNMlM liecenlly, a deputation from the New /.calami jieturiied Soldiers' Association inli'rvieweit the Minister of Jjaiids on mutters coiuiecrwl with land settlement. The Minister iws since been supplied with p.uliciiiai's of llie association's proposals. .Ur. Hou;i.as Seymour, general secretary nt' the association, has forwarded the following communication lo tho Minister:— ■ "With reference to our interview with you, when you so kindly offered us iO.OOO iH-i'es of good bush land, under tho avheuiu we submitted, this association heartily thanks you l'or the offer. Wo ale now taking steps to inspect this land aud l-eport on its suitability tor such settlement as was suggested. Wo attach tile-genera'! scheme of settlement which we propose should i.w put into force; this, of course, would be subject to any alterations which would make for the improvement of such a settlement. If our.schemo is approved by you,-aud the land you mention proves to be unsuitable, wo would be <?Md if you will allocate another block. We should be also glad if tho Government would njllocato some blocks of. unimproved swamp land which could be brokeivup into about. 10(1 sections for dairying,' <u/d" this ..association will undertako to provide men for the settlement under similar conditions, especially providing for tho man with no experience who wishes'to go on the Sand. I would point out, sir. that such a scheme offers-the following advantages:—

1. It settles men in groups of, comrades. 2. It allows a inau -without capital or knowledge of farming to take up 'land. I). It would bring in land now. unproductive. 4. It is an efficient means of training men on their own farms, who lmve no knowledge of -the work. 5. It is one of, the soundest methods of repatriating men who, On returning, found their places in towns efficiently filled by women. . (i. It is cheaper for the Government to advance money to break in. unimproved land than to' pay high prices,(.including the unearned increment created by the winning of; the war, for land in a high stato of production. - 7. The soJdier would have tho unearned increment (if any) instead of , land speculators'. . 8. It would tend to steady land • • values. ' 9. There is no better way of settling soldiers than to place them on the , land they have fought for. and pro- . vide for their-finanring and-training. 10. believe such a scheme to be financially sound and that it-is in the . ■best interest of the country generally to upset as little as possible'the readjustment in employment which has taken /puce during the war. by providing the returned -men with land, that by their, labours they .fnay in-., crease our products and enrich our country. Details of the Scheme. The 'following are tho draft proposals for settling a suitable Mock of, say,'4o,ooo acKij of ..Native laud by Tolumecl soldiera:— ..... - 1. Tenure—The tenure to be optional with right, of purchase. ' 2. The' Government to survey the'block into 40 sections, with, h reserve of approximately 50 acres, suitably situated for a centre, for store, dairy factory, school, hall, etc.

3. The Returned Soulier,?' Association, to select and recommend to the Land Board •10 returned soldiers,. 10 with experience in bush-felling, dairying, and sheep, and 110 who'need have no-inch experience. It will not ba necessary that any have capital, i •t. All the settlers to he of suitable ace, physically fit, and..willing to fulfil tho coiiQ'itions of-settlement. . - \ 5; Thti Goverjimenfc .td provide tho necessary capital for felling, burning, and grassing and fo'nciug 100 acres on each holding; also the amount, necessary for buildings and implcinents-if required. The pries of the, laud, and tho cost of .these items, together with .tlio cost, of ■reading, if any, iloaded or. such settlements,-.to be proportionately loaded on too ulch Section, but to bo free of in- 1 te-rest for five years, aiid .thereafter charged, for at .the usual rate of. interest and sinking fund. •

6. Tho reading and all other work to be done jointly 'by the f.ettlers at tho ordinary contract rates prevailing in the district. So far aa is possible, the whoi.o of tho arrangements of work and method of carrying it out to be Toft to tho soldiers comprising tiie settlement for their mutual! decision.' 7. If possible, those seilected for the settlement to . comprise a proportion of carpenters, painters, and plumbers, whoso ssrvioss would 'be available for th'o construction of mil buildings, etc., but sucli in no. way toiaterfcro with their instruction in tho duties of farming. S. Milling .timber—lf the block contains paying mUing timber, arrangements tobr made jointly-with the settlers for its milling and disposal. !). Instruction in farming—One nf the 10 experienced men to be selected on account of his experience and. general knowledge to bo superintendent of tho settlement until the work of. loading, fencing, 'falling,' burning, and grassing and instructing are carried out, to be responsible to tho lands Department-for the proper carrying out of tho work, to li'.'ye the nine other experienced men as and to be ivsponsible for a class of instruction of • one hour duration each evening, whenever snoh is practicable, and for similar profitable employment during wet days.1.0. System nf l>-iiJo!;incr —Ten sections to bo sheeted which ore evenly distributed throughout the block, and to he. bal'.-oted for nmoej the ten experienced meii.. I.'-', o'.her an to be billeted for anions' the inexperienced. This wtn ensure that experienced men are distributed amongst the.others and immediately iiv-i'bible fe.r help'e.iid advice, 11. The pottlers tn ilocide "-hat' joiiit measures they can ta'--> in the interest o." the settlement --n the wav of transporl, supplies buying seed, elc.