"RETRENCHVILLE."

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 533, 14 June 1909, Page 8

"RETRENCHVILLE."

LAND AND WORK FOR RETtHED CIVIL SERVANTS. WILL IT MEET THE NEED? '.. So far, the Lands Department has not reoeirod any applications from retrenched Civil Servantß for land under tho scheme which, os announced by tlhe Prime Minister, is to bo carried out. for their benefit. As none'f'of them are obliged to leave the soryice until September, they havo time enough beforo them for full consideration, and meanwhile they aro discussing tho subject among themselves. Tho Lands Department ie communicating with the Commissioner of Crown Lands to ascertain what areas of land siritlable for too purpose are available in the difforent , land districts.. '- , A Charming Imaginary Pfoture. Diverse views of. the scheme are held by those connected with the service. Some eay mot there will probably be many to take advantage of this means'of getting on tho land. The temporary clerks and others include a considerable proportion, it is eaid, of men. who have already had some exporionoo in rural employments, and many of these, as well as others, only need such faculties oe those proposed to be offered them to got on tho land. Seen through some rosooolotrrod spectacles, life. at Betrenchville, as a typical settlement might perhaps be called is pain-ted in quite attractive colours, ' and" it ie even euggestod that "many a temporary clerk may live to bless the day of h» dismissal." >.. , "A Few May Sunrtve the ordeal." Othere there ore to whom the outlook is much less rosy. They are inclined to argue with tho Hon. J. Anstoy, who told his colleagues in the Legislative Council last Friday that the.plan of sending inexperienced men i away to the bush with a blunt tomahawk and a six-by-eight tent had been tried before, and without much success; a few would survive the ordeal: and'make good settlors, but only'a few. It is stated by persons of this way of thinking, that fte men in the servioe who have any practical knowledge of bush-work or farming are not at all numerous. t , It is'recalled by others that tie idea of joint settlement on the land found great favour among the railway officers Borne years ago. A scheme was worked out in great detail and the matter was warmly taken up by the Railway Officers' Institute. The members were to secure, the land while remaining in the service and spend their surplus cash on improving it. Residence conditions were to be fulfilled by proxy. Somehow or other, enthusiasm evaporated, and no practical steps were taken. Outline of toe Scheme. ~.'./■ The features of the scheme are outlined in a eet of regulations under the Lands Improvement and Native Lands Acquisition Act, 1894. . ~-.-. ■•-. Section 4 of the Act provides -that, "any number of persons composing an association formed in accordance with regulations made under this Act may, by agreement with tie Minister,! .settle upon, any Crown lands for the purpose -of .clearing or otherwise improving the same, upon each terms as to advances or otherwise- as may bo agreed on." it is intended to make the regulations, more.liberal than they axe at proseut, especially in.regard to advances from the Government, but their main principles will be adhered to. The Commissioner of Crown Lands for tho district will control the formation of the association and the subsequent work. The land for each association will be divided into sections of, from 10 acres to 200 acres each, as the Commissioner may. direct, and no member may take up, at the start, more than one section. The Commissioner, guided by the wishes of tile members,.may employ them' in! parties 'to fell bush in blocks l irrespective of sections, or may allow individuals to fell bush on their respective sections. The parties for bushfelling wiD work, under co-operative contracts, arid settlers felling on their own,sections will be paid on contract, ■ the prices being 'those ruling in the district, but so that 6s. a day may be earned. The Government- will advance grass-seed, if required, but members must provide their own tools, tente, and provisions. . The Commissioner may employ the settlers by contract in clear-, ing scrub or fern, drainage or fencing.' Government Advances.' ' An advanoo up to £75 in any one season or £150 in all may be made for ploughing and grassing. A married ,man may obtain an advance of £30 and a eingie man £10 towards the cost of ploughing, fencing, and building a house and making a garden on his section. The advance will bear interest at 5 por cent.,-and the amount may bo deducted from earnings or, added to the capital value. The buildings will be the prol>orty of the Crown until fully paid for.' Tho amended regulations, vrliich are to be issued, will provide for more liberal advances than those above-mentioned. Residence on tho land must begin within three months after the first burning of bush on the land,' and must continue for ten years. Rent at the rate, of 4 per cent, per annum for every and .5 per cent, per nnm for every license with right of purchase will commence from January or Jury first immediately following one year from the date on which the grass is ready for stock in cleared forest country, and in open country time after the advances have bean expended as the Commissioner considers fair and equitable. The rent win be based on the capital value of the land, plus tho cost to the Government of reading, clearing, grassing, etc. No lease or licenso will bo issued until the first half-year's rent is paid and the: contemplated improvements completed. It is stated (Regulation 1) that the main object of tho regulations is "to assist deserving mod who are out of employment, or who aro otherwise unable to obtain land and thus become self-supporting," but hitherto the system docs not appear _to have been put into operation to. any great extent, nor, so faT as is known, is there any intention of applying it in the near future to the relief of the general body of the unemployed.