THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1912. SETTLING THE LAND.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10522, 10 January 1912, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1912. SETTLING THE LAND.

— There is a class of settlers in New Zeakuid who could, if they chose, have their names inscribed upon the tablets of time as public benefactors. We refer to those holders of large estates who have more land than they know what to do with, and are at present- an incubus to the development of the State. .1.1 these settlers would only follow the example set by the Duke of Sutherland, they ■would do miore for posterity than all the politicians who have lived since the foundation of the Dominion. The wealthy Duke, recognising the need for folding homes for English and Scottish settlers, has purchased a large tract of country in Canada. At Brooks, near Calgary, a number of furni's have been laid out- valuing from 80 to 160 acres; the house, stable and barn have been built on each farm., the fences set up. the wells su.uk, and the first crop' sown. Im some eases the houses are furnished with simple, homely firmiture sufficient for every need. The settler lias simply to come in with his family and Ills stock. To all intents and purposes the farm belongs to the settler ; ho pays for it in gradual instalments spread over ten years at a low. rate of interest. It will probably be 6 per cent., and though that may seem high, it must bo remembered that high rates of interest prevail in

Qanada. Tliese ready-made farms are intended 'for those who have , a little money of their own with whirih to buy their stock, say from £3OO to £SOO, according to the size of their farm. In this way every settler lias . a stake in the country. A second sohemie of the Duke provides an ■ opening for those who are without I capital. A large tract of land near I Clyde, Ailbarta, Ea<s been purchased. T. lis ivill be maintained c.s a model tfiirm by a farm manager. It will be in a sense a school for farming, where untrained men and youths may, learn the farmer's art. The wages or the iptm will be douible those, that they receive in England/. They 'will a„.:;o be boarded an<l houtod. In four or five years those who are most capable wall have saved enough capital to pur alias.© a farm of their owm. The experiment whiolx is being mad© by the Duke of Sutherland in Scotland anight with advantage be tried by Bome of the wealthy settlers in New Zealand'. If tine large estates in Hawke's Bay, and m the Wairarapa, iwere thrown open for settlement on the terms offered by the Duke of Sutherland, the future of the Dominion would be assured, and thousands of happy and contented settlers would occupy areas which at the present time are occupied by comparatively (few. Who will be the first to make ill is name live in the memories iof the ipeople ?