SETTLEMENT BY SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 June 1916, Page 2

SETTLEMENT BY SOLDIERS.

; AUSTRALIA PROMISES LAND, , Sir Rider Haggard is visiting New Zealand.on his mission in connection with ! the settlement of British soldiSrs in the J British Dominions. In an interview he , said lie was visiting the colonies in an ' honorary capacity as representative of the Royal Colonial Institute to inquire i into what facilities will be granted by the Dominions' Governments fortbe settling of British ex-soldiers on the land. ' In Australia he had met with great; .eflr \ couragement. He had to;find;.out what ' New Zealand can do. The. organisation 1 he represented did not wish- to hound people out of England. It was devoting its efforts to keeping those who do wish to leave England on the conclusion of '■ the war in the Empire, and to ensure ■ that they will remain under the British ; flag. He believed the emigration from ■ Great Britain to the United States in ■ normal times was 100,000 to 200,000 a i year. If these people must go away it ' was hoped they would go to the Brii tish ' dominions. Whatever the . cost, I whatever the sacrifice, we ought to keep I these men and women. Of course, there . would be difficulties, but none entirely ' insuperable. When lie set out, said Sir Rider, he did i not receive much encouragement from . friends, who might be supposed to know • something about the- matter. But Queensland had promised a million acres , suitable for dairying and agricultural farming. New South Wales had promis- , ed to put 1000 men on the Yanco irrigation lands in the next two years, ' giving preference to British subjects who , had been engaged in the war, and would , put all time-expired Imperial soldiers on the same footing as the State's own soldiers with respect to preference for Go- \ vernment employment. Western Aus- ' tralia would give British ex-soldiers the : same advantages as to any special land '. settlement or Government, employment as to Australian returned soldiers. South ' Australia was willing to extend the same privileges to British soldiers as to Aus- . tralian soldiers as regards,,land settlement and Government exployment. Tasmania would provide land and organise settlement for at least 300 British soldiers in orchard and agricultural areas. The Chartered Company of British South Africa had offered 5,000,000 acres free to all approved British soldier settlers from overseas; also to provide expert advice and supervision. From New Zealand Sir Rider Haggard will go to Canada on the same quest. ii * '