SOLDIERS AND BUSH LANDS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 288, 1 September 1919, Page 6

SOLDIERS AND BUSH LANDS

A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. Sir,—Concerning tho suggestion of employing soldiers for clearing blocks of country for settlement. Should tho Government adopt such a scheme it will ui.'doiibtaily mean jjreat possibilities for the country, and for the soldiers themselves. Score,■> of men who have had no experience on tlio iand, and anxious !o settle thereon, would be glad to avail themselves of the opportunity to "break themselves in," and it would also be the means of dispersing the no-employment bogey and restore many a soldier to his former health. To "fool." tho war bill the country will have to be roaded, railed, and new country brought into cultivation, and the revenue accruing frdiu eoiae will certainly bo ii tremendous item. Men who are good bushnien could be

allotted to their duties by competent overseers, while others less experienced and who are willing could be placed on other work, such as fencing, scrub-cut-ting, road-making, draining, and .other work incidental to tho clearing of tho block. Comfortable lodgings, recreation halls could bo established, with a medical man also iu attendance, while amongst the soldiers many would be capable of lecturing on agricultural and other kindred subjects. Should the State commence such a scheme as this I would suggest as a a experiment the prouuriiig ol' a small block first, and, should it prove a success, establish more of these "camps" on a larger scale in different parts of the country. If the Government wore to make in quiriea through the medium of, the Ii.S.A. and its branches throughout the country for men willing to undertake this business. I feel very sure a large response wouid be the result. Without any effort I could find twenty go(id, steady, willing workers, who through oiuy lack of capital are handicapped, while there are scores of others in tlis same position. . What would the Queensland Government give as .an inducement to secure tho fine type of .some, of our roturned boys to settle them quickly on their large and fertile areas? Very liberal terms indeed. Many of our boys are looking towards Australia, and even as far as tho United States, where they are highly admired, and, to my way of thinking, the New Zealand Government does not seem to appreciate or realise tho splendid type .of manhood l who so valiantly fought tho Hun host to the death, and let it not become-a reality that as soon as the most terrible of wars ceased our men shall be forgotten. The returned men have many legitimate grievances, and, in conclusion, I say—let the State not quickly. Trusting you will publish the above, and thanking you in anticipation—l am, etc., RETURNED SOLDIER. Levin. [The Government has already set asido one bkfck of hush country to be broken in and settled by returned soldiers somewhat on the lines suggested by our correspondent. The executive of tho U.S.A. has outlined a Scheme, which it is hoped will prove successful in developing the idea.]