PLACING SOLDIERS ON THE LAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 September 1916, Page 4

PLACING SOLDIERS ON THE LAND.

VILLAGE GARDEN SCHEME. Christchureh, September 2.'). At the ceremony of the laying of tlie foundation stone of the Soldiers' Memorial Hall at Darfield this afternoon, Mr. .If. A. Knight, chairman of the hall committee, said that the erection of the hall was only the beginning of a bigger scheme—that of placing returned soldiers on the land as farmers. They knew the futility of putting men with insufficient capital and with little or no experience on the ordinary-sized farm. There were other ways to help the returned soldiers, and he thought that with the help of the Government and of the Minister the village garden schemecould be realised. Under that scheme single men could live in hutments and have a common dining-room, which would be conducive to economy. There would he no necessity to specialise, especially in the matter of selecting seeds suitable for the land in the district. The plots of land for soldiers could he worked on the profit-sharing principle if necessary. It would be to the benefit of the fanners of the district to go into this scheme, and if it were taken up there were in "the vicinity of Darjleld many farmers who would employ these returned soldiers at a fair wage. He suggested that the soldiers' allotments should be five or ten acres, or whatever area was desirable, and they would be able 'by co-operating with the farmers of the 'district to have the. heavier work done liy the farmers' teams. The" Hon, G. YV. Kussell, in the course of a, speech, said that if Mr. Knight would lay before him a concrete, proposal in regard to this matter he would bring it before the War Funds; Council and'give it his most careful con-' 'sideration. The War 'Funds Council held at present about £20,000, and he thought if Mr. Knight placed the si heme before him as suggested he cciuld pro--iiise that the council would he prepared to give- a subsidy to establish the first returned soldiers' village settlement in Darlield. Tie assured them that an* pone'rete scheme submitted would rcceivi careful consideration, and he thought he could promise on behalf of the War Funds Council that it would assist sol I iliers in nuking a start.