The Daily News. MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 1919. SOLDIER SETTLEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 August 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 1919. SOLDIER SETTLEMENTS.

The scheme propounded by the Returned Soldiers' Association for solving the problem of land for returned fit men, is a common sense, business-like proposal that should commend itself to the Government. It appeared obvious that it effect was to be given to the pledge to place returned soldiers on the land the initiative must come from the Association, as the Oov(U'liinent has failed to evolve ;my schema of its own that would meet requirements, and time pressc. The land boards have done, and »!•« dolus, ,&4 id tkeir unun' u\

open up land for soldiers, and the Government has purchased a limited quantity of land at high prices, thus helping the land boom that we find prevailing to-day. The Association has two main objects in view—to acquire land at prairie value and to meet the case of those men who are without capital and experience in any kind of farming. Incidentally it desires to counteract the inflation of land values, and to prevent the dislocation of employment in other spheres of action. The guiding principles of the scheme are practical teaching, self-reliance, and increased production. The Minister of Lands has already offered the Association .40,000 acres of good bush land under the scheme submitted to him, and if the land ,is suitable it will be made the first of the soldier settlements; if not, another block is asked for. The Association also desires the allocation of blocks of swamp land that can be cut up into 100 sections for dairying. The returned soldiers with capital and farming experience may be able by hard work to get a comfortable living out of the high priced land, but the others need practically everything except manual labor, and these are the men for whom the settlement scheme provides. The settlement of returned soldiers in groups has already been advocated, and it has such manifest advantages that it cannot fail to bo popular. New land, hitherto unproductive, will be brought into cultivation and that is what is urgently needed. The men in each settlement "will not be put on the land and left to their own ingenuity in bringing it into production, but the scheme provides that ten out of every forty men in a group shall have a knowledge of farming, and it will be part of their duty to give instruction to the others, the sections being so arranged that the instructors are easily available at all times to the neophytes. The crux of the system is that it will be managed by the Association, which selects the men, and "will naturally take a keen interest in its success. The 'Government's part is to provide and survey the ■land into sections, supply the necessary capital for felling, burning, grassing and fencing 100 acres on each holding, besides advancing the requisite money for buildings and, implements, if required, the total cost, including roading, to be charged on the land, but no interest to be paid for five years, after which time interest and sinking fund is payable. As the men will do all the rest of the work there will be no question of taking men from other public works, nor will anything but nominal supervision be required by the Lands Department, and the inclusion of a proportion of artisans among the occupiers of the settlements will prevent a drain on this class in the towns, while they will receive instruction in farming and make the settlements as self-contained as possible. The scheme has been well thought out on the right lines, and the Association emphasises its manifest advantages. There is no valid reason why several of these soldier settlements should not be in operation at an early date. If the Lands Department has any difficulty in finding sufficient surveyors for cutting up the blocks it can call in outside help. No obstacle should be allowed to hinder this excellent scheme bearing fruition as soon as possible. It is a national work that has been neglected too long already, and it stands first in. urgency, besides which it should have an immediate effect in steadying land prices. Beyond all question it is a far cheaper and more effective solution of the problem than the Government could obtain by any other means, and it should materially assist in increasing production. The soldier settlers will naturally be keenly anxious to put forth their best energies to bring the land into profit and become successful farmers. The scheme is one for general settlement by comrades in arms who have shown their courage and resourcefulness while defending the Empire. They are entitled to generous treatment, but they can be relied upon to become good farmers if given a fair chance. The scheme gives them that chance. When the war began they knew nothing of soldiering, but they won through with high honors, and they may be expected to be equally successful in winning through as settlers on the land. Instead of paying for unearned, increment they will start on virgin soil and reap the profit of their toil and industry. All they need is land, guidance and capital, and the scheme provides for these, while being in all respects conducive" to the best interests of the country. The Association is entitled to the gratitude of tlie country, not only for its land settlement proposals, but for its practical patriotism, and its wise advocacy of a square deal for those who have served the Empire. If the Government enn improve the scheme, so much the better; if not. then it should lie acted upon without delay, and with a thoronglinpas that will leave no room , for adverse criticism.