THE LAND SETTLEMENT PROCESS

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 4, 29 September 1944, Page 4

THE LAND SETTLEMENT PROCESS

It will be generally agreed that the land-settlement side of rehabilitation presents certain difficult problems, particularly in the matter of ensuring that, as far as possible, all men are given equal opportunity, whether they are released from service soon or late. On ho account should it be a case of first in best served. This would tend to impose a most unjust handicap on many men who, if anything, will be deserving of some special consideration. Yet, there is another side to the question, and one that cannot in fairness be overlooked—namely, that the nature and length of a man’s military service, and likewise the date of his release, are governed for the most part by circumstances over which he has no control. From all points of view, therefore, any juggling with so-called “priorities,” especially if it represents an attempt to balance the merits of individual cases, will be perilous. Notwithstanding the defence of the priority system, as offered by the Minister (Mr.' Skinner) in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, people will continue to view it with suspicion, for at best it is a form of discrimination in which there may be risk of injustice, or worse. The real need, in meeting the problem, is for adequacy in preparing the ground for land settlement. ”1 he situation demands the greatest energy, enterprise and judgment in securing ample land to meet all suitable applications as they come forward, and to cater for them, if need be, by ballot. Moreover, the wishes of all those serving men whose minds have been made up should be. ascertained as speedily as possible. It may be impossible to devise absolute equality of result, but intelligent anticipation, employed in a scheme created from the start with sufficient scope to meet the full demand that will develop, should go a long way toward avoiding any unfair blockages at the beginning due to ill-considered “priorities,” or unjust paucity of opportunity at the tail end of the programme, as a result of failure correctly to calculate rehabilitation requirements.