FARM COLONIES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20097, 28 November 1930, Page 9

FARM COLONIES.

helping UNEMPLOYED. AUSTRALIAN PLAN. CraOM °' 7B OWB ' ORMBPOITD*»T.) Tho * ■ November 20. v , . . Assis tant Chief Secretary of Victoria (Mr Kieman), who ha. been admmißtoring the sustenance section of the Victorian relief scheme ia going au mit to his Government a »cheme wher^r''?it> GB ' a 'i*^ 3^mCnk farm colonies land wnri™ W ' lo Rre not: skilled in and lipnui may be P lace d in profitable Tf heal . th y occupations, twin SU * C l arms are established they Jn! t'l b6 tKe flrßt of their nature, : er °, are many who consider that i , (se tlJ _»es of serious unemployment . < colonies are a proper and suit- * means of absorbing men for whom other occupation cannot be found. In I'-tona, after the boom of 1893, an ™ P or the establishment of three descriptions of rural settleen ? village communities, homestead •issoeiations, and labour colonies. Tho laoour colony was established on 800 neies at Ijcongatha, the object being to afford temporary relief at sustenance wages to able-bodied destitute men.

Previous Experiments In the first year of the existence of this colony 1913 men were sent to it, and during the next 15 years nearly 7000 out of 99C5 applicants were afforded relief. The colonists wer instructed in general farming, pig farming was carried on extensively, and the cost of maintenance, including food, wages and management, was only 8s Cd per man per weelc. It was stated at tho time that with the Leongatlia colony in existence there was no need for any man to starve in the city. Every week destitute men applied to be sent there, and the farm became almost selfsupporting, and generally was regarded as a great success. After 26 years of useful existenco the land was resumed by the Government for soldier settlement—and it may be safely said that it has not paid the State so well. The Leongatha settlement was one of the most successful State enterprises in the history of Victoria, and it seems that if tho experiment were repeated it could be just as successful. A similar colony has been established near Adelaide by the Central Methodist Mission there, the idea being to make it a training school for primary industry. About 50 men are already employed at the Adelaide farm, and it seems to be well on the road to success.