FARM COLONIES FOR THE UNEMPLOYED.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20496, 15 March 1932, Page 11

FARM COLONIES FOR THE UNEMPLOYED.

TO THIS ESITOB OF TH3 PBES3. ■ Sir, —Well-intentioned people, hunting for City jobs for boys and girls, might well consider these two successful schemes. The first is condensed from a heading, "Farm Colonies" (Press, 1930): "Victoria Leongatha, labour colony, 800 acres, gave relief to thousands of unemployed in general farming, became almost self-support-ing; lasted 26 years, and was then resumed by the Government for soldier settlements. Has not paid the State as well." (Note: The Adelaide Central Mission Farm, a training school for primary industry, 50 men employed, seems "on the way to success.") Again the Fairbridge Farm, Western Australia, founded by a distinguished South African Rhodes Scholar, Kingsley Fairbridge, who was appalled by the poverty of London. His dream: "Colleges of agriculture, not workhouses, springing up in every corner of a man-hungry Empire; children shedding . the bondage /of bitter circumstance; waste turned to providence; the. waste of unneeded humanity cori.verted to the husbandry of unpeopled acres." His Otiginal farm of 160 acres has grown to 3200 acres, with a boy and £jirl population of 320, managed, says tire "Pfrth Daily News" of December j lltb, 1931. bv Colonel S. J. Heath and T'ndre Challcn. Fairbridge died in 1924, but his dream has materialised. I

free the pictures of happy boys and girls, G-15 years, "each witli a pint of milk daily, cricket and football grounds, swimming pool, peach and orange orchards, flower and vegetable school rooms, and farm buildings in happy proximity,." - Canterbury can do as well, or better, if we quit scouting round the town for Jobs that don't exist, and get on land here and now.—Yours, etc., F. J. ALLEY. March 14th, 1932.