SOLDIERS AS SETTLORS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2420, 27 March 1915, Page 27

SOLDIERS AS SETTLORS

IMMIGRANTS AFTER THE WAR.. The question of providing for discharged soldiers and sailors, or the widows and children of those who have fallen in the war, but planting them on tta land either in Britain or in the Dominions, is already occupying considerable attention in influential quarWe understand, sa.ys "United Empire," that it has been discussed at a special meeting of the standing Emigration Committee of the : Institute, which has made certain recommendations to the Council, and that definite action will shortly be taken. It is known that the Dominions Royal Commission has not vet completed its investigations in Canada, and will .therefore bo unable to present its final report until it has paid a second visit there; but it is hoped that it may be persuaded to deal with this pressing subject by way of an interim recommendation to the Board of Trade, the Department which, of recent years, has particularly concerned itself with emigration. The National Political League recently hold a private conference with reference to (a) suitable training for men and women in land industry; (b) the conditions under which they should be placed rn the land; and (c) the re- ■ sponsibility of the Government and the best means of securing their responsible co-operation. Some progress has been made with a scheme for farm "colonies" in the United Kingdom, at. which those desirous of adopting an agricultural life either at home # or overse.a could obtain their preliminary training on sound educational lines: and a corresponding movement is on foot for acquiring land in-one of the Dominions, on which settlers could be placed. It is highly desirable that anything which is attempted should be the outcome of discussion between all the Governments concerned. "Migration within the Empire" should be "the watchword'of the promoters, and those who wish to go to Canada or Australia should he dealt with in the snme way as those who Select to stay in Lincolnshire or Kent. In yet another direction a beginning has been made bv the Queen's "Work for Women" Fund, v'liicli is prepared to assist women nrM girls, 'in distress through the war. with grants of .'money and outfit, to take advantage of the liberal offer of certain •Australian Governments, in the shape of assisted passages and guaranteed employment on' arrival. .