SOLDIERS ON THE SOIL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 1, 26 September 1919, Page 10

SOLDIERS ON THE SOIL

• $. SOME' QUESTIONS ANSWERED.' (By Sir Rider Hns'ird, in the "Daily Mail.") The question to be considered is whether small men on the loud will do better in communal settlements—that is in groups—or as individual settlers, each man on his own. It. is one not. easy to answer, since in the end, in this r.s in other matters, everything depends upon tho persons concerned. In the case of ex-soldiers I should be inclined to favour the communal system, since they would have a spirit of comradeship, ami having worked together in war in necessary dependence upon each othar plight be inclined to do the same in tho occupations of peace.. In the case of civilians who have not been tied together by any such bonds, I lean to another view. The Englishman is strictly individualistic, especially if his upbringing has been upon the land. On the whole ho is a bad co-operator, and, in my opinion, the success of comTiitninl settlements. a»d to a great extent nf all small holdings, depends upon effective co-operation, which for tho reason givon alwvc would. I think, be more easily obtained among disciplined men. There is, however, another s:de to fie matter. The small holder as r» rule In a married man, and therefore his wife must be taken into account. Tn n communal settlement she would have more societv, but on the othcii hand she would have more chances of differing from her neighbours or of Wnmin.i a member of a clique which niigihl' quarrel with other cliques. In tWs connection it must be remembered thn.t the success or otherwise of a •small holdimr depends pi-r'ians evi :i more unon the woman t.hnn it does upon the man. However admirable the husband, if the wife does not find her lire or surroundings congenial experience provns that there will soor. ho an cml of the venture. For what it is worth, my own view is t''"t sometl"'M7 in the wav of garden cities or villages with ntlnebed sma l ! holdings or allotments outside are much more likely to succeed than purely-rural settlements. I would take this opportunity to reliant what T have often said, that a small holder's lift on English land is one nf lilie hardest imaginable and should only be attempted by those who have strong agricultural tastes and are ready to work early and late.