EMPIRE LAND.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15871, 10 April 1917, Page 5

EMPIRE LAND.

CLAIM OP THE EX-SOLDIER,

SETTLEMENT COMMITTEE

APPOINTED

(fnoil OUII OWN COUnF.Si'ONDENX-) LONDON, February 27. Imperial land settlement has loomed largo in the public eye these last few days, and it. is certain that the problem will be discussed at tho-coniing War Council. It is a subject in which Mr Massey takes the keenest interest, and ho never allows a suitablo opportunity to pass in London without a rcfercncc to its importance. . Fortunately, the Government seems alive to the fact that something must be done to attract the stream of migration to Empire lands. The Secretary of State for the Colonics has just appointed a committee to consider and report on the measures to be taken for settling within the Empire ex-soldiers who may desire to emigrate after thoVar; to collect and prepare for distribution to intending emigrants of this class information wliich "Shall show clearly -the nature of any facilities afforded by the Governments of the Dominions and States; to advise to the best methods of making this information accessible to the troops; and to make recommendations as to the steps which should be taken by his Majesty's Government in concert with the Governments of the States and Dominions for the constitution of a central authority to supervise and assist ! such emigration. i Lord, Tennyson, G.0.M.G., is ckair-

man, and Sir Thomas Mackenzie repre- ' sents New Zealand. ROYAL COLONIAL INSTITUTE SCHEME. Lord Sydenlfam, vice-chairman of the Royal Colonial Institute, points out that the Empire Land Settlement Committee of the R.C.1., while welcoming tho proposed creation of an Imperial Migration Board, -wish again to emphasise the importance of developing a well-considered and complete policy pf land settlement within the. United Kingdom. Lord Sydenham writes: — ; ''From the very nature of its composition. the new Board must needs deal with men who wish to settle upon our lands overseas. It is, therefore } necessary that equivalent opportunities of settling on the land, under equally vourable conditions, should be provided for those who wish to remain in tho Old Country. The two or three experimental land settlement colonies are quite inadequate, and must be multiplied many times if any adequate and worthy provision is to be made foif our ex-Service men wishing to serve at home. Onr agricultural population had declined before the war to a dangerously low level; the war has reduced it still further. Every effort must now be made to rebuild' and strengthen it. From the social point bf view, as well as the economic, we need many -more independent producers of food, settled on holdings of their own. From tho Imperial point of view w© need an overflowing agricultural population, so that from its surplus, we can send to_ our Dominions the class of citizen they require above all others —the cultivator of the soil."

IX SCOTLAND. In the meantime the Scottish Committee has issued its report. The main aspects appiv solely to Scotland," but its general recommendations are of interest. Tho committeo holds that a wide measure of rural regeneration in Great Britain is essential to the future of the nation: — (a) 'J'o compensate for the drain of pre-war rural depopulation; (b) To add to the defensive manpower of tho country; (c) To bring back into cultivation the immense areas of cultivablo land in the country at present uncultivated; and (d) lo add to the homo-grown food supply in view'of tho present oxtremo dependence of the country on supplies from abroad. Tho committee take the view that this policy can best be carried out by a I scheme of closer kind settlement, which | can beet be attained by the develop- j ment of small-holding colonics, -with 1 holdings of varying sizes. They suggest that in many cases such a proposal can be best carried out by absorbing the men into such existing villages throughout the country as may be found suitable for land'settlement, and, whero housing is not available, by tho immediate erection of temporary buildings from th 9 material which will no longer. b6 required for military hutting. '