VASTNESS AND RICHNESS.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5348, 3 February 1916, Page 5

VASTNESS AND RICHNESS.

VISION FOR THE SOLDIERS. RIDER HAGGARD'S MISSION. Electric Telegraph—Press Association. Copyright. London, Last Night. The Colonial Institute gave a luncheon to Sir Rider Haggairi prior to his touring the Dominions. Lord Curzon. who presided, sail that the settlement of .soldiers was one of the most urgent problems. Probably two million men would return, tEe labour market would become congested and wages would fall. After the open air life the soldiers were not likely to return to factories and offices, but would want to settle and lead a healthy life on the land. Britain’s areas and economic possibilities were restricted and as she wanted to keep her soldiers British citizens she must be guided elsewhere. Sir Rider Haggard, in replying, said that the Dominions presented an endless vision of vastness and richness. Anglo-Saxons might fill the world if they availed- themselves of these vast territories. After the Boer war there had been 250,000 emigrants whereof 123,000 had gone to the United States. We wanted to keep everyone of the soldiers for the Empire! There \vere tens of thousands of surplus women in Britain who could he spared for the Dominions. We must have cheap cable communication as it was one of the strongest bonds of Empire. He did not intend to interfere with existing schemes, but he would probably write a book upon the Empire and its lands.