Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 53, 8 February 1916, Page 5

Great Britain

LAND FOR THE WOUNDED. BOARD OF AGRICULTURE'S SCHEME. I [Lmimj Press Association’. 1 Loudon, February G. Hip committee ol I be Board of Agriculture 1 1. 1 - : . e-;lig:d.ed the post war land .settle!..■ .n sc.mine, especially that -or soldiers cL .aided and reports their unanimous conviction that the scheme is attracting a large population to the land, which Britain urgently required. Tlie committee states that in view of the obligation to ex-service men, and also to the highest interests of tin 1 nation, it recommends the immedcMe establishment of three pioneer coloums in Britain, aggregating live thousand acres, under expert guidance, with cluhrooms, women’s institutes, entertainment halls, and the abolishing of the past dullness of rural life. It also recommends the Government to make a first grant of two millions sterling to carry out the scheme. The existing machinery for small holdings under the Act is inadequate and a new one is needed. Only fifteen hundred applicants have been received for land in tlie past seven years. The ideal settlement will be a village community of one hundred farmers, with others engaged in subsidiary agricultural trade. Implements should be let upon hire ,and demonstrations given on the farms. Jam and cheese factories should he established. The minimum should be one thousand acres for fruit and vegetables settlements, with a minimum for dairying and mixed holdings of two thousand acres. Britain’s importation of re:: million pounds’ worth of fresh limit in 1913 demonstrated the opportunity of fruit farming. The rents ought to be . uff’icieut to recoup the capital outlay and cost of management, except the salaries of the staff and the cost of preliminary training.

The Government ought to train the disabled men and give ‘‘hern preference to the holdings.

MUCH MORE COAL NEEDED

London, February f

Mr llunciman has established a committee of officials of the Admiralty, and the Munitions, Mints, and Badways Departments, to advise distuct committees to ensure the increasing of the coal output and see that the needs 'of important, industries are fully supplied. The difficulty of providing Huai some districts has become pressing. COMPULSION ACT TO OPERATE NEXT MONTH. London, February 6. The Press Bureau states that commencing from March 3 all classes un-

der the Compulsion Act will ho called up corresponding to the Derby groups who have already been called up.