SOLDIERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17069, 30 July 1917, Page 6

SOLDIERS.

PROBLEM OF THEIR SETTLEMENT. SUGGESTIONS BY MS i E, RATTRAY. (Fbom Oue Own Coheespondekt.) "WELLINGTON, July 29. The settling of returned soldiers on 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 Company (Ltd.) and a member of the Dunedin Soldiers' Committee. 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 Hone. W. Fraser and G. W. Russell, whilst the other Otago members of Parliament are interesting themselves in the matter. Mr Rattray, who has just come back from a visit <go Australia, states that not 25 per cent, of the soldiers returned to the island continent have any desire to go on the land, apart from those already connected with it. In Canada 3 per cent, have gone on the land. Here, as a member <>f the Dunedin Soldiers' Committee, he can say positively that very few have an inclination tnat way, unless under most favourable conditions, and they seem to expect a great deal to be done for them, preferring to hang around the city while they have any money. " In cutting up big estates into blocks of, say, 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 make 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 is made, that a great number of the farms will fall back into the hands of the Government, thus frustrating the intended object. Mr Rattray asks how would it do to take a portion of these big estates—not tho whole,—cut them into smaller farms, and by an arrangement with the owner of the estate, get him to supervise through his manager and a Government inspector, and to periodically report to th 9 department. This idea was under consideration in Australia. Smaller farms, or, rather, mixed farming; will attract, according to Mr Rattray, a number of the men, and the suggestion i s to have these in groups under a .responsible and practical superintendent. A soldiers' cooperative settlement could be formed, and the men could thus mutually assist one another in making a success individually and collectively.

Orchard farms comlbined with or without poultry farming have been suggested, but Mr Rattray considers that this method of repatriation cannot be done successfully without experience or expert advice. He states that there are many irrigation settlements along the Murray River, in Ausralia, for orcharding and small mixed farming, and ho states that at Auokland, Nelson, and Central Otago schemes similar to these are carried on under expert advice. Not only that, but trees several years planted are already occupying portions of each block, with a part not planted, which could bo used for growing small fruits, vegetables, till the fruit of the larger trees comes, to profit He suggests that these pubho or private companies. be communicated with, with, the object of ascertaining the conditions, and, if satisfactory arrangements are made, to secure portions of the estates for a soldier settlement, which will, of 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 aro not planted, he arrangements could do made with the companies to plant suitable trees so as to be ready for the rush of soldiers which must eventuate after the war. This, he says, would allow them to take up a property that is a going concernnot bare land that will have to be put in order and will take the heart out of the men before they start. To the above he would add a house, and he suggests that married men. have the preference.