AGRICULTURAL COLONIES FOR WAR ORPHANS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2846, 10 August 1916, Page 3

AGRICULTURAL COLONIES FOR WAR ORPHANS

Among the many and varied steps taken in Italy to mitigate tho evils produced by the war, one of tho most provident and beneficent is the foundation by various bodies of agricultural colonies to rceeivo the orphans of peasants killed in the war, and to bring them up to follow tho occupation of their fathers. Wo learn from tho "International Review of Agricultural Economics" that the National Society for the Orphans'of Peasants Killed in War, has been founded in Rome to promote tho formation of such colonies; establishing them directly whore the need is most pressing, and supplementing from its own funds local initiative. .It will also urge the appointment of a special commission to purchase laud for tho purposes of forming small holdings aud of selling them on favourablo terms to orphans brought up and instructed in the colonies. These colonies, according to a scheme drawn up by the National Institution of Agricultural Mutual Insurance, are to be essentially homes situated in rural where orphans "may find surroundings closely similar to those in which they spent the first yoars of their lives." 'there will bo land where the children can do field work under the direction of expert agriculturists "as though they wero still living on their father's little farm." Tho teaching, will bo of the most practical character. In the farm school attached to the colotiy the hoys will learn everything ncccssary to make them skilled agricultural' labourers, and to enable them later to manage small rural holdings as tenants, metayers or proprietors. They will accordingly ho familiarised with the cultivation of various crops, tho raising of cattle,. the breeding of silkworms, tho use' of agricultural machines and implements, etc. Tlio ages of tho children may vary from 7 to 15 years, and they must bo orphans of peasants, by wliwh will be understood labourers, metayers, or small proprietors. The annual cost of maintenance for each child is calculated at about 600 f. The funds will b'o furnished by provincial consortiums, communes and other bodies, which will pay annually for the maintenance of a certain number of children, thus becoming entitled to a share ill tho management of the colony, and to tho right of nominating a corresponding nuinber of children. These will remain in the colony up to the ago of 21 ; ■ under the-care of a manager, who Will have the help.of skilled teachers,of agriculture and. of servants. As the article shows, the movement in support of the formation of these colonies seems likely to bo very successful in Italy. In fact, colonies organised in tho manner doscribed have already been formed or are in . process of formation at Citta di Castcllo (ill Umbria), at Vicenza, R-ovigo, Genoa, Voroiia, Bologna, Mantua,' Catania-, Palermo, Milan, Rome, etc. '