NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 110, 3 February 1920, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY

Tiib figures relating to soldier settlement announced to-day % by the Minister of Lands arc impressive. That nearly a million and a half acres of land should have been already taken up by soldier settlers under Government auspices at a cost to the State of nearly 10 millions suggests a speeding-up. In addition to the 4644 men who have taken up farm lands, 110 fewer than 4373 others have been assisted to secure homes at a cost of (£2,660,685. Thus, altogether, up to December 31 last, 9117 soldiers had been assisted under the repatriation scheme either to become farmers or^ouse-

owners. In addition, tho Government has purchased 57 private estates which will soon be available for settlement, ''and other lands arc already available. The total expenditure to date is over £13,000,000, and it is probable that by this time something like 10,000 soldiers have benefited by the Government's efforts on their behalf. The least satisfactory feature of the figures disclosed is the amount of new settlement involved. It is true that much of the land purchased by or on behalf of soldier Settlers represents subdivision of large properties and.more intcn-! sive production, but the area of new [land brought under cultivation docs not constitute as large a part of the total as could be desired. Only about one-seventh of, the mcrf who have gone on the land up to the present, have been placcd on undeveloped Grown binds. No doubt the area of Grown lands suitable for immediate settlement is not extensive, but every effort should be made to turn the tide of settlement in this direction, and to open up new country as speedily as possible. The Minister, however, is to be congratulated on_ the excellent showing made by his Departmenfc in the tot&l results attftincd {0 date.

The dispatch of a force artillerymen to Fiji as a precautionary measure gave rise to a number^ of wild and foolish rumours in Wellington yesterday. The _ Prime Minister's assurance, which we publish this morning, should case the minds of those credulous pcoplo who lend too ready an ear to. street gossip. It has been obvious for some days past that the industrial trouble with the Indian labourers at Fiji was causing some anxiety, and apparently the iiuthorities there have sought outside assistance as a precautionary measure against disorder spreading. Tho total white population of the Islands is less than 5000, while the imported Indians number between 50,000 and 60,000, and the native Fijians nearly 70,000. The idea, no doubt, is that the presence of a New Zealand Government steamer with field guns and an armed force will have a wholesome moral effect in keeping the Indians within bounds. The police force at the Islands is mainly composed of Fijians under European officers, and though efficient enough for normal requirements, livav not be equal to enforcing the law in face of the present trouble.

■ Though the Health Department deprecates the idea that there is any cause for alarm in the increasing number of cases of inlluenza reported throughout the Dominion, it is highly desirable that all reasonable precautions should be ,takcn by citizens generally. In' Wellington the health report for the week shows that the number of cases as compared with the previous week's record has more than doubled. Happily the great majority of the cases are of a mild type of the disease, but there are a sufficient number of pneumonic cases to lend emphasis to the call made for the exercise of every possible precaution.

According to Mr. Ariwckle, the secretary of the Miners' Federation, "Hie true feeling of the Huntly Miners'. Union in regard to the present dispute"' is indicated in its reversal by 95 votes to 7 nf its recent motion in favour of negotiations between individual miners' unions arid the employers. The evidence of a. cl'P'ige of-heart on the nart of the Huntly Union is somewhat unconvincing. True,, it is stated that the original motion in favour of separate negotiation was passed b.v only 28 votes to 7; but some curiosity will be felt in regard to the elimination nr reversal of 21 of these 28 votes. To say the least, it does not seem impossible that the Huntly Union has succumbed to external influence.