TRAINING SOLDIER SETTLERS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 67, 13 December 1920, Page 8

TRAINING SOLDIER SETTLERS

WHAT CANADA IS DOING SUGGESTIONS FOR NEW ZEALAND WEAK SPOTS IN LOCAL ARMOUR ' (By "Ex-Canadian.") Mr. W. J. I'olson (YV'unganui) said.it was quite uselc6s putting men on laud of any class unless they possessed some knowledge of what they were going m lor. Tho great majority of soldiers desirous of taking up land required to bo taught tho fundamental principles of farming beforo being placed on farms. Therein lay tho weak spot—so far as lie could see—in the whole scheme. The abovo point, which was made during a discussion on soldier settlement at a recent meeting of tho Dominiun executive of the. Mew Zealand Farmers' Union, has not been fully appreciated by tho Parliament of New Zealand, in Canada, where this point was not overlooked. New Zealand is ull'oided a striking object-lesson. ,'The necessity tor some comprehensive system of iarm trailing for prospective soldier settlers who lack the necessary experience, is far moro pronouncod in New Zealand tliun in her big sister Dominion, on account oi tho higher price of good farming lund aloiw. Tho Government is not solely to blame for putting the "cart before the horse" in that it leaves many of its soldier settlers to gain their knowledge of farming after they have acquired land, letting them pay for their experienceoften a very costly process. The New Zealand lielurnocl Soldiers' Association displays the sanio lack of foresight with regard to the matter, for in tabling its land pplicy recently it described tho two main problems to be solved as follow;— (1) "To find land for the soldiers"; (2) "to find soldiers for the land." The association might with advantaso have added n third plank, couched in these terms: "To devise the most practicable scheme of instruction in fanning for moro or less inexperienced applicants for land." In this way it would help materially to solve problem (2) as 'o how to find soldiers for the land."

A Double-Barrelled Measure, lu this connection there is not tiw siigntest doubt nut that tnexe are. man) returned soldiers eager for tunning wllo aiu deterred irom taking up land on account of their lack ol experience. '['he Canadian soldier-settlement sciieiuo is a douulo-ljarre:led measure, lu aims at accommodating (1) ex-soldiers lroiu overseas countries, as well as from tbu big Dominion itself—who are experienced in farming; and (2) cx-soldiero of the right type who, wluie lacking tho necessary modicum of experience, aro willing and anxious to settle vm tue land. Aa a semi-oilicial Canadian publication recently put it, "Canada certainly cannot securo too many men as limners, pro vided that they know something about farming or (and this is the point) are willing to learn 6ometliiiig about it hero first.-"

To this end the Dominion Government has framed tho necessary; legislation under which those who-desire to participate' in the privileges of tho Bolditx* .Settlement Act must satisfy the Soldier Settlement Board that they possess suflieient knowledge of farming practice to enable them to engage in farming successfully. For tho purpose of determining tho fitness of candidates for settlement qualification committees have nceii appointed in tho different provinces. These committees are made up of men who understand tho conditions under which, settlers are called upon to live, and make money from tho land. Candidates for settlement who have been brought up on farms, or who have had sufficient experience in farm work to satisfy, tho qualification committees- as to their fitness to engage in farming are. immediately given a certificate indicating their qualifications, and immediately become eligible for consideration by tho loan boards who consider their applications for loans. For those who nave not had any or 6iifficient~iarming experience alternative courses of training in agriculture aro made available.

Instructional Scheme Explained. A system of instruction in two parts lias been adopted—the fust known as PreparatcVy instruction, and the second field Instruction. Preparatory instruction includes tho necessary training and cxporience to enable u candidato to sntisly himself' on the one hand, whether larm life will bo congenial, and desirable, and enables the board, to determine- -whether 'ho has the necessary qualifications, aiid is fitted in general to make a success of tho fanning business. Meld instruction is provided after settlement of the soldiers, on the land, by instructors who have had special training in this work. The method employed is somewhat similar to that which had already been in voguo in certain provinces in Canada in locating trained n"riculturists as district representatives of Departments of Agriculture, for tho purpose of advising and aiding farmers in farm management. As a means of providing candidates for settlement with the . preparatory training they require ill the minimum of time, and in the most efficient manner possible, two courses have been adopted: one known as tho Practical Farming Course, and the second' as the Institutional Course. Candidates havo the option of selecting cither one of these courses, but those men who select the institution course are required to take at least a portion of the practical farming course.

The Practical Course, ltecognising that in no other business does experience count for more than in fanning, tho Canadian authorities lean most towards the practical course. A knowledge of the real meaning of farm life can bo obtained nowhere so well as on an up-t'O-dnto farm. Bearing this in mind, the Settlement Board has piepared in the various provinces lists of farms sufficiently up to date to provide proper facilities for successful training, mid managed by men who aro sincerely interested in solving tho problem of agricultural instruction for returned soldiers. Those who elect to talco their preparatory instruction on farms, and tho tanners assisting in the work, aro visited from time to lime during the year by representatives of tho Soldiers' Settlement Board, and a record is kept of tho progress being made by oacli prospective farmer. At the end of the year tho board determines by this record whether tho candidato is qualified to eonimenco farming on his own account under tlio aogis of the State. Institution Course. For the benefit of those who cannot conveniently go direcbto work with farmers, an institution course covering weeks, is available. This course, it is stipulated, must bo followed by at least ono summer season, and prcierably ono year's practical experience on a selected farm. This course may 'bo commcinced at any time in tho' year convenient to training institutions—in the shapo of agricultural colleges and tho liko-whcn men aro available to receive instruction. As to course proceeds records aro kept ot mo. progress being made by each student, and at the end of the term trels are made o determine tho extent .of the students knowledge in the various f?l*s*-J? the teaching is very practical in chaiactrr. most of tho tests, if not all, aio Practical, in order that the skill as we is tho general knowledge of the stuuonc nay bo determined. .The course is a very comprehensive, one, including- as it doe. instruction under tho following h«»<* ~ TTorseß, gas engines, farm . niacinion, f?m building and construction, Waeksmithing and general farm management, the latter including feeding and cultivntWn' Placing the Settlers. Once the prospective settler has been .„„" %a [by tho Qualification Committee sary exporlenoo, he may select ngncut

tural land anywhcro within sncli province, tlio purchasa being made, through tho assistance of the board. Tho settler is required to pay in cash 10 per cent, of tho purchase price, the board making itself responsible for tho balance up to an approved approximately .£IOOO. Provision is, however, made to cover the easea of men who may nqt.be ablo to pay (ho 10 per cent., but who havo had successful farming experience in Canada and are specially fitted as fanners. In thosfl cases the whole or part of the initial 10 per cent, may bo dispensed with. The interest on the balance owing is fi per cent., and all is repayable on the amortisation plan, in, not more than 25 annual instalments. • Not more than 320; ncros may bo sold to any on,? settler. Tho board may also acquire and resell at cost) tunny such settler live stock and equipment, not exceeding approximately iMOO. Repayment of any such loan is spread over a period of years and bears 5 per cent, interest. A furthir loan of .£"200 may bo secured by the settler for permanent improvements, including buildings. Free Land for Soldiers. Alternatively, qualified returned sodier settlers not desirous of purchasing an improved farm or an unimproved farm from a private owner, may take, up a-free selection of Dominion Government land, and earn the t'eo simple thereof by virtue of six months' reMd-ence thereon in each of three years. To such settlors ard extended the same privileges with respect to advances for ..stock, oquipment, and permanent improvements, as those accorded to settlers taking up a purchased farm.

In view of the recent suggestions of. the New Zealand Returned Soldiers Settlers' Association relative to gathering information regarding suitable farms for soldiers, it is interesting to note what provision has been made in Canada in this connection. Carefully selected lists of farms throughout Canada suitably for soldier settlement and availablo for immediate purehaso at reasonable prices have bccji drawn up and arc available for prospective settlers! Deduced transportation is provided to prospective settlers in locating land. Settlers, however, are not limited in selection of land, to nny list that may be supplied ij>y 'the Settlement Board, but may make their selection elsewhere.

An Interesting Comparison. A perusal of progress reports as to the work accomplished, issued by tlic respective Governments of Now Zealand and Canada, affords some striking contrasts. Small as New Zealand is alongside of \\cf big sister Dominion, her G-oviinimeiit had up to the end of September last expended a larfj.)r sura in settling her. returned soldiers than the Canadian Government. In point of numbers the Canadian Government had, granted loans to 18,520 soldier settlers, a little over three-times the ntimlvi' who have so far benefited under the provisions of the New Zeland soldier settlement scheme. The cost to Canada was .£15,057,150. comparedwith an expenditure in New Zealand/of approximately .£17,000,0<)0. Tlwse figures also serve'to emphasise the costly nature of the Now Zealand scheme, duo of course, in the main to the high price of land and buildiii" and tho rooiv: generous allowance made to settlers-ns compared with Canada-for tho purchase of stock. In a. word, it has cost up to the present slightly more than three times the amount, of money to sottl,, a. soldier on the land in New' Zealand that it has in Canada. One thing that makes for cheaper settlement in Canada is the fact that most of the land settled is agricultural land and does not call for a heavy outlay in stock as obtains in Now Zealand.