CANADA ENCOURAGES FARMER-SETTLERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 301, 12 March 1928, Page 1

CANADA ENCOURAGES FARMER-SETTLERS

SCHEME TO ESTABLISH 300,000 FAMILIES IN PRAIRIE PROVINCES By Cable. —Press Association. — Copyright. OTTAWA, Saturday. An immigration scheme, having as its object the addition of 2,000,000 to the population of the prairie provinces and British Columbia within the next ten years, was advocated in the House of Commons by General A, D. McRae, Conservative member for Vancouver.

His proposals contemplate the settlement of 50,000,000 acres by 300,000 farmers, who with their families and the consequent development following would in time add the 2,000,000. General Mcßae suggested that the Government should furnish a free homestead and 160 acres of land and advance £IOO to each settler to get him started. No payment to be demanded from him in the first five years, and then 30 years to be granted to him in which to pay off his indebtedness.

The total cost to the country (£60,000,000), the speaker said, should be raised by the issue of land bonds. He suggested that all the partners in the British migration scheme should jointly work out an equitable basis for guaranteeing the interest on the bonds over a period of 20 years. He also suggested that the British Government should inaugurate preliminary training of settlers at Home and eliminate the unfit; also that it should transfer part of the funds of the dole system as bonuses to induce farmers to train as prospective migrants. General Mcßae said he wanted to see people of undesirable races absolutely barred from Canada let the price be what it might.—A. and N.Z.-Sun.