YEOMAN CLASS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 88, 8 January 1935, Page 11

YEOMAN CLASS

Type of Settler Wanted in New Zealand LORD MILNE’S VIEW Dominion Special Service. Auckland, January 7. “New Zealand is a type of country that should attract as settlers the best British families,” said Field-Marshal Lord Milne, who Is passing through Auckland on his return from the Melbourne centenary celebrations, and is accompanied by Lady Milne and their daughter, Hon. Joan Milne. He acted as deputy for Earl Jellicoe, president of the British Empire Service League, at the biennipl conference of the league in Melbourne.

“As long as there are all the numerous restrictions and tariffs in force such settlement is made very difficult,” said Lord Milne. “It is not worth while producing anything more in the world until what is already being produced can be marketed. The whole situation would only be further complicated by further production. “I am very much adverse to sending people from Britain to the Dominions without the most careful selection. The type that is wanted here is the yeoman class .and they can probably do better for themselves farming at Home, and may not want to emigrate. The man for overseas settlement must be very hard-working, very knowledgeable, and very businesslike. 1 say this without knowing the actual conditions in New Zealand, but I assume they are substantially the same as those In Australia. At the same time, I think there are marvellous possibilities at this end of the world.”

Referring to the recent conference of the Empire Service League in Melbourne, Lord Milne said that such gatherings were invaluable in helping to overcome difficulties of bringing units of the British Empire together. The value of holding conferences in the different Dominions in turn had always been recognised, the only depariure being on a previous occasion when, owing to Lord Jellieoe’s poor health, it was felt that it would be advisable io confer in England.

During his visit to Australia Lord Milne bad been very struck with what was being done for returned soldiers in the Commonwealth, and he hoped that as much was being done in New Zealand. Although there were many contributing factors to world-wide unemployment to-day, Lord Milne regarded the employment of women in work hitherto performed by men as having played a great part in . bringing about the present state of affairs. During the war women and younger men had of necessity been employed to do all kinds of work, and when the end of the war came they had been retained.

Lord Milne, whose army career dates back to ISBS, when he joined the Royal Artillery, saw his first active service in the Sudan campaign of IS9S. He served in South Africa. During the Great War, after being chief staff officer of the Second Army, he commanded successively the Twentyseventh Division and Sixteenth Army Corps. Later he commanded the British Salonica Force, and from 1926 to 3933 he was Chief of the Imperial General Staff. He holds two interesting historical posts—one being governor and constable of his Majesty’s Tower of London, and the other th.it of master gunner of St. James’s Park.