EXPERT ADVICE FOR SOLDIER SETTLERS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 219, 10 June 1919, Page 6

EXPERT ADVICE FOR SOLDIER SETTLERS

AN OPENING FOR RETURNED MEN, Sir,—l wish to beg spaco for a few lines as an inquirer. As regards the Tepatria-. lion of our returned soldiers, end especially those who_ have taken vp farming »t *''?r e w ' lo "'tend taking up farming: IJow, -Sir, some of those men aro competent farm el's and some of them are incompetent and unpractical in r.ny branch of farming. Now there is talk of appointing supervisors or instructors, and why not give some of our returned men that have seen activo service a chance of filling these positions and cut out the red lapoism? I can vouch for two or threo at least of our returned men whn wero farm managers and volunteered at the outbreak of war and have seen two and three years' activo service, besides some of them-making the sacrifice of two and three brothers. _ Yet some of those men have made consistent applications to the Government, for -positions since their discharge, and their applications aro ignored by the officials. Yet those men hold the highest testimonials of their capability in any line of fanning; also their wide and experienced knowledge of all stock, the handling of it,' also the buying and selling; The practical knowledge they hold in, and would be, of vast benefit'to a returned soldier that has started on the land and has got so far and is in doubts as to what to do next, Yet r say these men's, applications are turned down in favour of some other applicant, backed up by red fcapcism and perhaps incompetent Every applicant should be tested on what ho knows concermng farming or dairy stock or sheep or cattle, or tho proper methods to employ in any of the above-mentioned lines. I heard of a market gardener getting tho position of Government Crown load ranger, Fancy n man like this going into' a Blieep yard to pick out a line of fat sheep, or going to select a herd of dairy cows, or show a soldier how to set a double-furrow plough, or instruct a. soldier in the proper methods if putting in catch crops to supplement his milk supply in tho hot and dry weather. Yot a man of this type gets the preference to a man that has had years of practical knowledgo with all stock and agriculture, —I am, etc., ■ INQUIRER.