Cornell University Library UB 356.M4 Summary of soldier settlements in Englis 3 1924 014 519 692 i?tsitt College of Agriculture at Cornell tHntbersfitp Stijata, M. B- Hiiirarp " DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Franklin K. Lane, Secretary SUMMARY OF SOLDIER SETTLEMENTS IN ENGLISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES ELWOOD MEAD CONSULTING- ENGINEER, V. S. RECLAMATION SERVICH WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1918 — , ^ Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924014519692 -AnW*^ \* DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Franklin K. Lane, Secretary SUMMARY OP SOLDIER SETTLEMENTS IN ENGLISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES ELWOOD MEAD consulting engineer, u. s. reclamation service WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1918 AA4- -^ ^j/75% CONTENTS Page. Foreword -... , - 5 Summary of soldier settlements in English-speaking coun- tries. 1 7 Note on the cooperation of public and private interest in land settlement for soldiers , 10 Great Britain 11 Canada 13 The Dominion Government 13 New Brunswick 15 Province of Ontario 15 British Columbia -* 17 Australia , 18 Australia's experience in land settlement . 18 New South Wales _ 19 Victoria 21 Queensland . 22 South Australia 24 Tasmania, - 1 ..,. .^ ., 25 New Zealand j , — 26 Union of South Africa " 28 ' (3) FOREWORD. The following summary of soldier-settlement legislation of other countries is published to help the people of this Nation understand and deal with one of the reconstruction problems which confronts us. The laws have special value because in most countries they are the outgrowth of several years' experience, prior to the war, with a rural development under which land was bought, subdivided, im- proved, and sold to settlers on long-time payments. Provision for soldier settlement required, therefore, only the broadening of a system of laws and policies already in operation. One important feature of these laws is the provision for coopera- tion between the Federal and State authorities in Canada and Aus- - tralia, and, generally speaking, between the central Government and the local authorities. It will be noticed that Australia, which has an area about equal to the United States, has a comprehensive scheme for cooperation be- tween the Commonwealth Government and the several State govern- ments, under which the States provide the land and the Federal Government provides the money for reclamation, where this is neces- sary, and for financing the improvement and equipment for farms. Such cooperation makes the movement truly national because it en- lists all sections of the country and mobilizes in the service of soldiers public agencies which have the practical and technical knowledge needed to secure the desired results with the least effort, money, and time. It is believed that this cooperation should be the outstanding fea- ture of our legislation. If the movement is to be national in the 'fullest sense, every State should provide opportunities for its sons and should contribute to the expense and share in the direction of the movement. If this plan is followed. State legislation is as neces- sary as Federal legislation and both ought to be enacted this winter. It is hoped the facts herein stated will help to show the character of the legislation required and the extent of the work to be done if we are to meet our responsibilities as other English-speaking coun- tries are meeting theirs. (5) SUMMARY OF SOLDIER SETTLEMENTS IN ENGLISH- SPEAKING COUNTRIES. Legislation, Administration, and Appropriations. All English-speaking countries except the United States have passed special soldier settlement legislation and made appropriations therefor. Where good free land exists this is offered the soldier, but even when such exists he is usually given assistance in the individual purchase of private land, or such private land is purchased by the State in blocks. In countries like England, New Zealand, Victoria, and New South Wales it is largely a question of resuming land. When land-settlement boards do not already exist they have had to be created, except in the case of Ontario and some of the other Canadian Provinces, which are using their minister of lands, their agricultural, and forestry departments for this purpose. Handling applications and placing soldiers is largely decentralized and in the han,ds of voluntary local committees. The English and Canadian method of settlement is to establish central farms on which to try out crops, to employ and train settlers, stock them with animals and implements for the use of the settlers, and about these farms to lay out farm blocks of varying dimensions. The Australian plan is to follow the policy of closer settlement already laid down and so successfully prosecuted. Explicit data concerning total appropriations are not available. The usual method is to start the work with a small appropriation and to add to it as required. In the case of Canadian Provinces and the Dominion, funds come from an appropriation for general development, probably derived from taxation; in England it is a disbursement from the treasury; in New Zealand and Australia the funds are derived wholly from the sale of bonds in the London market. (7) 8 Respective Spheres of State and Federal Action. In the two countries where a Federal Government exists, namely, Canada and Australia, tentative steps have been taken toward work- ing out a cooperative plan the general nature of which is for the general Government to supply the funds for loan advances and for the States to supply the land and to supervise its division, and maybe control. A general board has been appointed in each case and on which each of the States or Provinces is represented. Undoubtedly when the period of demobilization approaches this plan in the case of Canada and Australia will be carried out in great detail. Kind and Amount of Aid. Aid to the soldier takes a variety of forms. There are, first, the allowances which are given a soldier for himself and family in the probationary period of working and beginning of experience ; under this head might be mentioned transportation which all of the coun- tries offer the soldiers when they are traveling to training stations or to the land ; second, either the giving of land or the pricing it to the soldier at the cost of purchase and subdivision ; third, the supply- ing of advice, guidance and instructions by all countries ; fourth, the supply of grading, farm tools and sometimes farm animals free or at cost (under this head may be mentioned the supply of seeds and fer- tilizers) ; fifth, credit advances for the taking up of mortgages and incumbtances, for clearing, leveling, and ditching of lands, for erec- tion of fences, buildings, barns and houses, for the building of homes; sixth, assistance in the organizations of cooperative buying and selling associations and the giving of whatever aid the State Governments ought to give in this direction. In every instance the payments for the purchase of the land or for the reimbursement to the State for advances are stretched over a long period of time. The period of payment varies from 20 years, as in the case of Ontario, to 36^ years, which is the case in the Australian States. Advances for stock and developments are repay- able in from 10 to 25 years. The interest charged is seldom more than i cent more than the interest paid on public securities. Types of land Tenure. In Canada freehold rights prevail. In England the perpetual lease predominates. In New Zealand both the lease and the freehold are given. In Australia some of the States, such as New South Wales, South Australia, and Queensland, do not give a freehold title. The occupier pays a rent of about 1^ per cent of the capital value of the land and receives a perpetual lease which is inheritable and, under certain restrictions, transferable. The other States offer a freehold title or a lease. The governments of all these countries are not in- clined to part with their grazing lands or lands that are suitable for further subdivisions. They are usually leased for short or long terms. In nearly all cases, while the soldier is not legally required to main- tain a residence, he can not lease his land or transfer it within a stated period and he can not meet his payments on the advances re- ceived unless he is giving his whole attention to his land. Efesidence, therefore, is practically assured. Selection and Training of Soldiers. The selection of soldiers and the advice they receive is largely in the hands of local committees in the case of Canada, England, and Australia. Such local committees are usually expected to give their advice in the selection of lands to be purchased by the State. Some training of the soldier in agriculture, and some practical farm experience is ahvays expected. Such training and experience are obtainable from three sources : Employment on farms, from agri- cultural colleges, or'f rom farms associated with the colony enterprise. Progress of Soldier Settlements. The legislative acts in all countries are practically complete. The organization for the administration of the acts is largely completed. Some private lands have been purchased and public lands set aside by all of the English-speaking countries. It is not possible at this time to give a table of the amount of land so acquired. 89548—18—2 NOTE ON THE COOPERATION OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INTEREST IN LAND SETTLEMENT FOR SOLDIERS. European countries in contrast to English-speaking countries, where State action largely prevails in land settlement, have developed a policy of State cooperation with private societies. This is notably true in the cases of France, Holland, Norway, and Sweden. Private societies which are created for the building of houses, purchase of acre farms, or the subdivision of large estates usually sell their se- curities in the money market, realizing very small margins of profit, but also supplementing their funds by those received from the State. They also derive benefit and create their reserve capital by means of share membership. Even if they depend wholly upon State funds these private societies relieve the State of a large administration expense. In Sweden there .are three classes of such associations, national, provincial, and local, 17 in all. These associations are given about a million crowns a year for their several purposes. The real estate credit societies for small holdings and dwelling houses are composed of five elements: Private individuals, savings banks, public benevolent institutions, commissions and departments, and the State. They are aggregations of public and private funds devoted to a social purpose. The savings banks can not only invest in these societies but it is of greater advantage for them than to loan to individuals. The commissions and departments not only take bonds and shares; they guarantee the share dividends, but also the interest. Through the various agencies a society with 25,000 francs of paid-up capital may make advances on a total real estate value of 625,000 francs. These agricultural lending societies in France have been given the task of purchasing small rural properties for soldiers and civilian vic- tims of the war in a law signed April 9 by President Poincare. The law provides in part : " Individual mortgage loans to facilitate the acquisition, parceling out, transformation, and reconstruction of small rural properties of which the value does not exceed 10,000 francs." (10) GREAT BRITAIN. Legislation and Appropriation. Thus far England has done little more than experiment with land settlement for the soldier. There has been much agitation and legislation for small holdings but without achieving very satisfac- tory results. Since the beginning of the operation of the small hold- ings act (1911) for the purchase of small acreage through the county councils there is said to have been an actual decrease of 5,500 hold- ings of 50 acres or under in England and Wales. The statement has also been made that of the 15,000 small holders who rent or have pur- chased through the councils only 774 have had newly equipped farms ; the remainder have had to shift for themselves. This result is not promising, considering the fact that £5,250,000 has been ad- vanced to the councils out of public funds for purchase and adap- tation. For the councils it may be said their advances are being repaid, and their losses are negligible. The councils have not used the credit, banking, cooperative transit, and market facility clause of the act. They have insisted that the applicant have a capital of at least £5 per acre of land leased or purchased. This requirement has eliminated most laborers. Although the Board of Agriculture has the authority to go forward with the development of small hold- ings if the council in question does not act, the Soldiers and Sailors Land Committee of the Board of Agriculture has decided that set- tlement of soldiers under this act is not feasible. The failure in the main seems to be due to the, lethargy of the councils. By act of Parliament (6 and 7 Geo. V, 38) the Board of Agri- culture and Fisheries is enabled to acquire land for a small number of experimental holdings. Four of such areas for subdivision com- prising 6,000 acres, the maximum permitted under the act, have been purchased or leased, three in England and one in Wales. These will be described later. Recently a bill has been intrbduced in Brit- ish Parliament authorizing the purchase of 60,000 acres of land in England and 20,000 acres of land in Scotland to provide homes for returning soldiers. This is ten times thearea originally authorized to be bought. In addition, large areas of land in .Scotland have been given to the Government to be subdivided into farms and leased to returning soldiers. The departmental committee appointed by the president of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries to study and propose settlement plans asked for an appropriation of £2,000,000. (11) 12 i Administration. Settlement of soldiers in England and Wales comes under the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries. In Scotland the Board of Agriculture is operating under the same act. The Kind and Amount of Aid. The land. — Assistance to soldiers has taken the form of colonies. Four of these have been established to date by the Soldiers and Sailors Land Committee. The colonies to be developed were planned to accommodate about 100 families, each of which is to have from 10 to 25 acres, according to the character of the farming. Two of the colonies have been obtained on a 99-year lease at a yearly rental. The other two were purchased. They vary in size from 1,000 to 1,345 acres. Each of these colonies is to have an administration farm of about 250 acres, on which stock and implements are maintained for the use of the small holders. However, the division of the assets has, up to the last information, not been accomplished. Credit. — The English plan does not contemplate extensive credit to the occupiers of these colonies. The board expects to supply oppor- tunities for work and to improve the small holdings in a way to make them yield at an early date a support for the settler and his family. Such cash as may be needed for the purchase of stock may be had from the cooperative credit bank to be established under the partner- ship of the State. There are also to be accommodations in the way of stock and implements at the central farm. Land Tenure. In line with the traditions of British agriculture, the Soldiers and Sailors Committee favors tenantry rather than ownership. The rea- sons given are : First, that for the State supervision and control it is best ; second, to the small holder tenantry offers greater mobility and freedom of movement; third, less capital is needed by them in the case of a lease of large areas than the purchase of small holdings. The English small farmer does not, it is claimed, care for ownership. During the seven years the small holdings act has been in force there have been no applications for purchase. The Selection and Training of Soldiers. Discharged soldiers of the Army who desire to farm are expected to work at least a year on one of these colonies before taking up the small holding. Progress of Land Settlement. Very recent information is not at hand regarding the progress of land settlement. The four colonies have not yet been fully estab- lished. It is understood, hbwever, that the Soldiers and Sailors Com- mittee is preparing to make recommendations for a considerable ex- tension of colony settlement. CANADA. THE DOMINION GOVERNMENT. Legislation and Appropriation. A soldier settlement board of three members was appointed in February, 1918, following upon the act of August 29, 1917, called an "Act to assist returned soldiers in settling upon the land and to increase agricultural production." The essential features of this act are the bestowal of agricultural credit when needed by soldiers in any part of the Dominion and the gift of Dominion land in western Canada. The credit may be used for acquiring and improv- ing land, for the .payment of incumbrances, erection of buildings, purchase of stocks, etc. The sum of $2,916,000 has been appropriated by Parliament for the purposes of this act. The Administration of the law. The complete administration of the act is in the hands of three departments or divisions. (1) The soldier settlement board, which with the approval of the governors in council may make all funda- mental regulation with regard to purchase or occupation of land and the granting of loans. The board has offices in each Province, through which cooperation is established with the provincial settle- ment boards, the land officers, and the advisory boards. (2) The interior department handles all matters in connection with the entry, patenting, etc., of Dominion lands. (3) The provincial advisory boards, which are made up of community leaders, who serve without pay, and whose recommendations largely govern. Respective Spheres of State and Federal Acts. With the exception of a certain amount of land in the western Provinces the control of patented lands, civil rights, and local admin- istration is in the Province. The Dominion settlement act has, there- fore, no jurisdiction over lands in the Provinces except in the case of those lands reserved by the Government. The loans are intended primarily to assist the soldier to develop the free Dominion lands, and secondarily to assist the Provinces when possible. As yet no general agreement has been made between the Provinces and the Dominion (13) 14 Government as to the settlement of soldiers. The aim, however, is to support provincial plans and policies. The Kind and Amount of Aid Offered. The land. — By civil right the soldier is entitled to 160 acres of vacant Government land. As a soldier he may take up two adjoin- ing quarter sections, making 320 acres. Special reservations have been made within 15 miles of the railroad in northern Alberta. The credit. — The maximum amount which the board can loan to a settler is $2,500. However, the amount which may be loaned the settler is in every case dependent upon the value of the security which he gives. In the case of free land the value is determined by its agricultural productions, and the commercial value of any other security given. The ability of the applicant to make a living and to meet his obligations is taken into account. The loans will constitute a first charge upon the land. First-mortgage security is given for all loans upon privately-owned land. Payments of principal and interest reach over 20 years; the first two installments may be deferred, but the deferred payments will continue to bear interest. The rate of interest is 5 per cent per annum. The Conditions of Tenure. The law gives the soldier a freehold right in the land. Patents, however, will not be issued until the entire loan is paid up. Trans- fers prior to that time are with the consent of the board. Residence and cultivation of the land are required. The settler may at any time pay to the board the whole or any part of the money borrowed with interest. Selection and Training of the Soldiers. Applications are passed on by the advisory boards in each prov- ince. It is the duty of these boards to see that the applicant is justly dealt with, according to the merits of the case. This board may send the soldier to a farmer for instruction or to an agricultural training station. It may, again, place the soldier upon the land and recommend that a grant be made. (It has been reported that the men are as a rule averse to an assignment to farmers as help, but are not opposed to a period of training in an agricultural school, where presumably they may work together.) The act empowers the Soldiers Settlement Board to employ farm. instructors and inspectors to assist settlers, and instruction for train- ing in domestic and household science for settlers' wives and female dependents. 15 The Progress of Settlement. One week after the opening date for filing applications (July, 1918) a total of 28,000 acres to 181 soldiers was granted. Six hundred and ninety thousand and eight hundred dollars in loans to 606 applicants were approved by July 13. It is reported that 10,000 additional acres of Dominion land will be cultivated by sol- diers this year. NEW BRUNSWICK. Legislation, The act of April, 1916, " to provide for settlements after the war " gives new duties to the Farm Settlement Board and creates an honor- ary body known as the Advisory Board. The Advisory Board receives from the Farm Settlement Board proposals for the selection of suit- able lands, both private and crown ; also proposals for the furnishing of supplies, equipment, instruction and education to settlers. These jp^oposals are reported with recommendations to the Governor in Council, who in turn may make regulations for the proposals agreed upon. The Lieutenant Governor in Council may borrow such funds as may be necessary upon the credit of the Province. The Kind and Amount of Aid. Land will be sold or granted to settlers in amounts varying from 10 to 100 acres. Opportunity will be given to enlarge acreage. In purchased lands, the soldier pays 10 per cent cash, the balance in 20 years, paid semiannually with interest. A patent oi- deed to the land will be given upon the payment of all advances. Selection and Training of Soldiers. New Brunswick's plan is to develop settlements at once and to send men to them for employment and experience. A suitable village or town site is selected and small farm's laid out in the immediate neighborhood, with larger farms in outlying portions. A Govern- ment demonstration farm is a part of the plan ; here teams and imple- ments are available as in the case of Ontario. Settlement Progress. An area of 20,000 acres has already been set aside for beginning settlements. These settlements are to accommodate 100 to 250 families. PROVINCE OF ONTARIO. , legislation and Appropriations. Of all the Provinces of Canada Ontario undoubtedly leads in the scheme which it has adopted for the settlement of the soldier, as well as the progress that it has made in actual settlement. The first sol- diers' act (No. 150) was passed in 1916. Its purpose was to make 16 available the immense territory known as the Clay Belt, which ex- tends west from the boundary between Ontario and Quebec for a distance of 400 miles. The soil is a rich clay loam, free from rock and well adapted to mixed farming. The district is reached by two railroads. A $5,000,000 appropriation has recently been made for northern development, the larger part of which will be used in the interest of the soldiers. The Administration of the Act. This is primarily in the hands of the deputy minister of lands and forests. A committee represented by members from the Depart- ment of Lands, Forests and Mines, the Department of Agriculture, the Military Hospital Commission, the Great War Veteran's Asso- ciation, the Soldiers' Aid Commission, the Canadian Patriotic Fund Commission, and the Vocational Training School pass upon appli- cations and determine the disposition to be made of the soldier. The plan is wholly a provincial one, so that its relation thus far to the Dominion board is only indirect and incidental. Kind and Amount of Aid Granted. One hundred acres, of which 10 have been cleared, will be allowed each soldier without charge. When necessary a loan not to exceed $500 will be made to pay for housing, machinery, tools, and live- stock. The amount loaned is repayable in 20 years with 6 per cent interest. No payment of principle or interest is required for three years. This may appear a small amount, but is not so when other aid is taken into account. The ex-soldier is paid for clearing his 10 acres and also receives the assistance of his fellow settlers. A central colony farm will be established in each district. Here the settler may obtain the use of houses and a stock of the heavier farm imple- ments without the need of purchase. The central farm will assist in many other ways. While the men are in training or employed in groups, they will be paid. Single men receive $2.50 per day, married men $1.10 a day with a maximum monthly allowance of $30 for dependents. The Land Tenure. A patent from the Crown is obtainable in five years from the time the soldier begins work on his own land. He must lia\e carried for- ward the development of his land. The Selection and Training of Soldiers. Applicants for land are first given a physical examination. Their applications are then considered by a committee, the members of which have already been indicated. Most of the men are sent to the Agricultural Training Depot, established on the Government 17 experimental farm at Montieth. After longer or shorter training periods they are then sent to the farm colonies that have already been established. Already several hundred men have been provided with land. As early as October, 1917, there were 500 applications for land on file. BRITISH COLUMBIA. Legislation and Appropriations. A number of acts have been passed in this Province to aid the soldiers. The acts confer added powers upon the Land Settlement Board, which, with the sanction of the Lieutenant Governor in Coun- cil, can make loans, lease, exchange, set aside Crown lands, purchase, subdivide, and farm private lands. The land settlement act of 1918 permits the board to establish " Settlement areas " where good but undeveloped lands are available. Owners therein must either improve their lands or sell to the board at an appraised value. If the owner files a statement claiming a higher value, such value will be taken for assessment. The penalty for not making improvements is a tax of 5 per cent of the board's or the owner's values, in addition to all other taxes. The soldier's land act of 1918 empowers the board to expend not more than $500,000 for the purchase of private land. The Administration. The Minister of Lands administers all affairs concerning lands; the Land Settlement Board in cooperation with other related depart- ments of the Government deals with the soldiers. The Agricultural Credit Commission administers the loan funds. In general, British Colimibia in common with most of the other Provinces has not found it necessary to provide for service men, but merely to enlarge the powers of the existing agencies. State and Federal Action. The act of 1918 instructs the Lieutenant Governor in Council to convey to the Dominion such Crown lands as may be necessary. In this way the Dominion appropriation of $2,500 may be used for British Columbia soldiers. Fifty thousand acres have already been set aside for soldier settlement. The British Columbia Government does not state expressly what assistance it will give soldiers, each case being dealt with individ- ually. The aid is liberal, however. A soldier may acquire 160 acres of free land or purchase through the board this amount of private land. British Columbia follows the general plan of Ontario as to the training of soldiers, relying somewhat more, perhaps, on turning the soldiers over to farmers to gain the necessary experience. AUSTRALIA. AUSTRALIA'S EXPERIENCE IN LAND SETTLEMENT. The Australian States have had a relatively long experience in the purchase, subdivision, and settlement of lands; they can in general do little more for the soldier than they have done for the settler since 1901, except to hasten the development of new areas of land and to increase the rate of purchase. Between 1901 and 1914 the six Aus- tralian States purchased and subdivided 3,056,957 acres, for which $55,243,125 was paid, or about $18 an acre. Settlers were also as- sisted to build homes and to make needed improvements. Between 1909 and 1914, $68,029,500 was loaned for improvements. The Com- monwealth Government alone will advance £100,000 to settlers in 1917-18. It expects to advance £2,000,000 in 1918-19. The farmer pays a higher rate of interest than that paid by the State; land set- tlement has, therefore, not been an added burden to the taxpayer. Although Australia has vast areas of land unoccupied, most of that which is susceptible of being brought under cultivation at moderate expense has already undergone development. A serious problem confronts the Dominion and State governments in providing land in any such proportion as that which has already been called for by her soldiers. The Dominion Government. The Australian Dominion Government was the first to draft a fully adequate law to repatriate the soldier, be he maimed or whole bodied. The repatriation act of 1916 was intended to consolidate and stabilize the private patriotic funds which were being accumu- lated in the several States, and were being administered locally. The Government added to the sums collected by the States, making a total fund of £359,355. This was used for relief and vocational service of all kinds, including small sums for the reestablishment of shops and small farms. The nex:t step was a beginning toward actual settlement. In con- sideration of the number of men in the Anny who have expressed a desire to take up land the Goverimient contemplates an expenditure of £20,000,000 — an equivalent for the population of the United States of about $2,000,000,000, to place soldiers upon the land. (18) 19 Bespectire Spheres of State and Federal Action. Under the plan worked out with the States the latter are to pro- vide the land for settlement, while the Commonwealth makes ad- vances to cover the cost of the improvements, stock, etc. The plan of cooperation as at present worked out is to the effect that the Com- monwealth will supply the necessary funds, amounting to £22,000 in all for the credit and advances of all kinds to settlers. A joint board, consisting of a minister for each State, and the Commonwealth min- ister, will supervise operations. "The board will recommend ad- vances of money to soldier settlers, decide upon the purposes for which such advances may be made ; decide upon the rate of interest, and method, of repayment. * * * The advances will be made at reasonable rates. Each settler will be allowed an advance up to the full value of his improvements. In this way capital which each settler must possess of his own will be reduced to a comparatively small figure." NEW SOUTH WALES. Legislation and Appropriation. The soldiers' settlement act was passed in 1916 and amended in 1917, which gave the minister power to set apart any area, crown land or land acquired in closer settlement acts, for the benefit of soldiers. In general, land is acquired by the soldiers under the cus- tomary forms of land tenure, such as that of the Farmstead Home or the Crown Lease. Provisions are made in the Returned Sol- diers' Special Holding and in that of Group Settlement Purchase. This special legislation gives the settlers a few advantages, such as that of group settlement, and application by one or more (instead of three) settlers for the purchase of private land which the pur- chaser has selected. The Administration. The Minister of Lands has full charge of all settlements and loans. A large number of district land officers assist. Applications are dealt with by a Classification Committee. New South Wales has developed a complete system for settlement, and advance of credit; mention is not made of the existence of a working arrangement with the Dominion Government. Kind and Amount of Aid. The land. — The most important aid which New South Wales gives her soldiers is found in the method by which land values are fixed and the long time allowed for payment and low interest rate. The value fixed is as near the earning capacity of the land and its loca- tion as it is possible to make it. The annual payments are fixed at 20 2^ per cent of this capital value. The semiaimual payments are spread over 38 years, the first two years being omitted. In the case of the group settlement purchase five years' residence on the block or employment in the group settlement is required. Payments begin six months after purchase and are at the rate of 6 per cent of the value. In the purchase of private land with the approval of the minister, the purchaser is obliged to pay the first installment, the balance being provided by the Govermnent and repayable by annual installments. Ten years' residence is required, and improvement equal to 10 per cent of capital value must be effected in two years, 15 per cent in five years and 25 per cent in 10 years. The credit. — Five hundred pounds are advanced for improve- ments. Such advances will be allowed for improvements effected by the settler in the same way as if work had been done by con- tract or hired labor. Maintenance is allowed during probationary work, but such allowances must come out of the loan. Repayment of loans will be extended over 25 years (first five years interest only to be paid). Tools, stock, and implements are paid for in six years (first year interest only to be paid). Seeds, plants, trees, one year. The Land Tenure. New South Wales does, not give an absolute title to the land. When all conditions have been met the holder receives a lease in perpetuity which for all practical purposes is equivalent to a free- hold title. The " rent " for the land, as has been said, is based upon the capital value of the land as determined by the Local Land Board, reappraisement of this value being made in 20-year periods. Selection and Training of the Soldiers. Every man in the imperial service who wants a farm is given an opportunity to show his fitness. He may on his own initiative gain six months' experience on a farm or go to the Government Farm for the necessary training. Settlement Progress. The State has made fair progress in providing farms. Prepara- tion of 1,000 farms in the Yanco irrigation area is already under way. The average farm is to be 50 acres. Other areas are under develop- ment. The State plans to lay great emphasis upon the cooperative services which may be used in the community. These services apply not only to the preparation of the lands of settlers, but to such matters as distribution and sale of products, purchase of supplies, establishment and management of canneries, creameries, etc. Settlers on the pro- jects of the State have always shown great willingness to loan their labor and their teams for the use of newcomers. 21 The State has already been called upon to provide farms for 5,000 ex-soldiers and is finding difficulty in keeping pace with the demand, although up to March the Government had purchased 18 estates of 171,213 acres, and it is proposed to make 2,000,000 acres available by January, 1920. VICTORIA. Legislation and Appropriations. Under the Victoria closer settlement act some 567,687 acres have been purchased for civilian settlement. The lands average $37 an acre in cost and were sold to the settlers for about $45 an acre, super- vision and settlement absorbing the difference. Up to the beginning of the year 4,112 settlers had secured land under the act. Victoria's act for the settlement of discharged soldiers on the land was passed October, 1917 (8 Geo. V. 2916). The act makes special provision for returned soldiers beyond those found in the general closer settlement act of 1915. It also authorizes extensive develop- ment of irrigated areas and purchase of nonirrigable land. Moneys expended iii agricultural development come from the sale of State bonds in the London market. Administration of the Law. The land purchase and management board, responsible to a minis- ter of lands, administers the law in regard to all nonirrigable land, and the State Elvers and Water Supply Commission is responsible for settlement upon irrigable areas. The council of every district or municipality is made an advisory committee to the board. The duty of these committees is to report upon land available, to aid and encourage soldiers and to assist the board in every way. Victoria has opened her lands to aU soldiers of the empire who have been duly certified in London as fitted for settlement. The State has been hastening the improvement of all available irrigated land and has made large purchases, of land in regions of satisfactory rainfall. Data are not at hand as to the acreage purchased, but some $5,000,000 has been set aside for this purpose. It is believed that an expenditure of $25,000,000 will be necessary to provide sufficient land for the soldiers who return or come to Victoria. Respective Spheres, Etc. Victoria was a party to the original agreement with the Dominion Government with regard to the consolidation of the repatriation fund. She will probably, if she has not already done so, adopt the Dominion plan of settlement as outlined. 22 Kind and Amonnt of Aid. Civilian settlers are required to pay a deposit of 3 per cent on the capital value of the land on taking it, and to make amortized pay- ments of 6 per cent per annum for 31^ years. Soldiers, however, need make no payments for 3 years. It is preferred that the soldier have some, capital. To this and to the value contributed by the soldier's labor, the State will make ad- ditions. The general rule for advances is 70 per cent of existing value up to $2,500. All loans are made by the State Savings Bank. The State will also make advances to those soldiers who desire to go in for share farming, when such loans are indorsed by the proper authorities. Tenure of the Land. Victoria bestows a freehold right in the land. The applicant for land under the general act gets a right to occupy. He then receives a conditional purchase lease which may run for the period of the payments. At the expiration of 12 years, if all covenants and agree- ments have been met, and all purchase money for land and improve- ments paid, a Crown Grant for the land is given. Residence for eight months is required of the civilian ; the soldier is exempt from this requirement, but he may not have two holdings and can not sublease. Selection and Training of Soldiers. Experience is gained at the Agricultural College or in working for farmers on the Land Board. The local advisory bodies and the land ofiScers have the responsibility of selecting men. Victoria is having difficulty in providing land fast enough for soldier needs. The Land Board has asked holders of large tracts to ^et together and set apart and subdivide acreage for soldiers' needs. QUEENSLAND. Legislation and Appropriations. The Discharged Soldiers act of 1917 (No. 32 of 1917) provides facilities for the land settlement of discharged soldiers. Practically all of the Crown land in the State has been i:eserved for the soldiers. Sixty thousand acres of this land have been especially set aside for group settlements. The constitution of the Consolidated Revenue Fund by means of sales of bonds is arranged through the Governor in Council. All expenditures are made by the Minister of Lands, with the approval of the Governor in Council. The act does not state the amount of the fund, but bonds are authorized to meet the requirements. 23 The Kind and Amount of Aid. In Queensland, as in New South Wales, public land is disposed of under lease. The terms to the solider are most generous. No rent is required for the first three years, and from the fourth to the fifteenth year the annual rent is 1^ per cent of the capital value, and is fixed by the Minister of Land. However, the lessee is obliged to meet requirements as to improvements and residence. For the first 10 years of the term the soldier settler may not mortgage his land except to the Commissioner of the Government Savings Bank, or transfer it, except to another returned soldier. For Crown land the capital value will be from 10 shillings per acre upward, and will not go beyond 30 shillings per acre. On re- sumed areas the capital value wiU depend on the price paid by the State. Credit advances. — The soldier settler may borrow up to $2,500 from the Government Savings Bank for making improvements on the land, erecting dwellings, etc. While the civilian settler pays 5 per cent for such loans, the soldier settler pays but 3| per cent for the first year, 4 per cent during the second year and an increasing rate of 4 per cent per year until the rate of 5 per cent is reached. .The repayment of the loan reaches over 40 years. Advances for the purchase of stock, machinery, or implements may command an additional loan. In fact the total advances may amou.nt to as much as $6,000. Land Tenure. Both in the case of public land and that resumed, a freehold title is not given, but in its place the occupant receives a perpetual lease selection when all the conditions have been met. Progress of Soldier Settlement. Three large areas are at present undergoing development for sol- dier settlement. The Beerburren Settlement is in the most advanced condition. The total area of this settlement is some 51,000 acres and the land is suitable for pineapple growing, also that of citrus fruits. At this settlement there is a training farm where the men are given working knowledge of the agricultural conditions of the region. They receive wages of from two pounds to two pounds ten shillings a week, while there. There is also a general store and a State school, together with a library. At Pikedale, a border town near New South Wales, there is also another area of 17,400 acres. Clearing and road making is going on in this reservation. A State nursery has been planned and soldiers will be employed on it. Another center is at Oswald's Track in North Queensland near Innisfall. Here 157,300 acres have been reserved for soldiers. The land is suitable for dairy- 24 ing, general agriculture and sugar cane farms. Another 40,000 acres are projected in the Cecil Plains in the Toowoomla district, and still another 112,000 acres on Mount Hutton. Further areas amounting to 52,400 acres in various parts of the State have been set aside. SOUTH AUSTRALIA, The Administration. In this State an act was passed in 1915, and another in 1916 (7 Geo. V, No. 1264). In this act the powers of the land board, the land commissioner and the governor are specified. The governor has the power to set aside lands, to purchase lands and to make any regulations conducive to the purpose of the act. A separate ma- chinery is not set up for the execution of the law. South Australia has joined the Federal plan as outlined under Dominion Government. The Aid Bendered Soldiers. The usual low rate of interest and long-term payments are ac- corded the soldier. Assistance for development is available both from the State and the Federal Government. The rent of the land in the case of the soldier may be remitted for as long a time as the com- missioner deems necessary. The settler is expected to have some' capital. Tenure of the Land. South Australia gives a perpetual lease rather than a freehold title. No lease granted can be transferred except on the recom- mendation of the land board with the consent of the commissioner. Training of Soldiers. The Government has established farms in the repurchased land and the irrigation areas for the training of ex-service men who have not had previous experience. Progress of Settlement. Two large blocks of land have been purchased for closer settle- ment. There are large areas of Crown lands suitable for wheat growing. Much other land is available when it can be drained. WESTERN AUSTRALIA. Government Provisions. The State -has reserved land in the "Wheat belt" and in the " Southwest." In the wheat belt the soldier may purchase 840 acres at 15 shillings per acre and select 160 acres for which he need only pay the survey fee. For this and for any money the Government may have expended for the land, payment is spread over 30 years. 25 To handle such a farm the soldier should have a capital of £500, but some of this can be borrowed from the Agricultural Bank. Residence and progressive improvements are required. In the Southwest timbered land the soldier may select 160 acres. A part of this will be cleared by the Government. Training stations are provided in the Southwest. The State does not pay men while gaining experience as work is available on every hand. TASMANIA. Tasmania has, in general, followed the plan of New Zealand in dividing its lands for soldier settlement into ordinary and special tenures. By the act of 1916 (7 George V No. 20) the Closer Settle- ment Board, established by prior acts, was given the task of soldier settlem>6nt, the same act providing a closer settlement fund of not less than £150,000. The Tasmanian Administration is notably lib- eral with soldiers. Interest is waived for the first 12 months and payments of principal for the first four years, all of the deferred interest being added on to the principal to be paid back over a long term of years. In common with other Australian States this Government gives the soldier a credit of £500. The land can be acquired either by purchase or on lease. First- class land may be bought by the 200 acres at £1 per acre ; second-class land of a larger number of acres can be obtained at 10 shillings per acre and third-class land of still larger areas at 5 shillings per acre. Residence is necessary according to the provisions of the Crown Lands acts. No interest or taxes will be payable for four years for the sale, or in the case of lease of the land no rent will be charged for the first year. NEW ZEALAND. le^slation and Appropriations. The first act was passed in 1915, but it was extensively amended in 1916 and 1917. Lands for soldiers are of two classes, ordinary ten- ures being areas for general farming and sheep runs, and special tenure being small acreage near towns and cities, largely for dis- abled soldiers. Lan,ds under ordinary tenures are purchased or set apart by proclamation. These may be obtained for cash, ofccupa- tion with right of purchase, renewal lease, or small grazing run lease, as the case may be. In the year 1917, 276,290 acres were set apart for the soldiers. The demand for land in New Zealand is very great, the best por- tions which are suitably served by transportation being already set- tled. Under the Public Works act (1908) the Government has the right to prescribe the limit of area which may be retained by a land- owner for different classes of land. This law is invoked for the benefit of the soldier, in the case of land in the neighborhood of the cities. In 1916, £500,000 was appropriated for this purpose. The Land Board may also purchase any private property when it is specifically applied for by a discharged soldier. In this case land must be offered voluntarily to the State. In adidtion to the above amount, £120,000 has been appropriated for advances to soldiers and for roadways opening blocks of land. The Administration. Land purchases and settlements are placed in the hands of the Land Board with the consent of the minister. The Land Board is assisted by a staff of inspectors and instructors. Complaint is made, however, that the absence of a special soldiers' board has been detri- mental to the interests of the soldier; that his case and his rights which have been recognized so fully elsewhere are not sufficiently protected. Kind and Amount of Aid. In the purchase of land the soldier pays 5 per cent down and 5 per cent interest. A lease will have a 66-year term, with perpetual right of renewal at the rate of 4^ per cent based on the capital value of the land. (26) 27 Advances of £500 and even £750 will be made for purchases of pri- vate land, for transfer of lease, or any land administered by the board. Such advances are also used for all ordinary purposes of improvement. All sums are advanced as required rather than in lump. Land Tenure. This is either in the form of lease or freehold. New Zealand has not adopted a uniform policy in either direction in the case of set- tled lands. Lands held under lease may be purchased by the sol- dier. The range land is, however, always held under lease. The soldier is not permitted to transfer his land without the consent of the board for a period of 10 years. The land is revalued at intervals, both for taxation and lease payments. Selection, Training, and Placing of Soldiers. The board does not emphasize preparatory training. A man is early placed upon the land, and his instruction left to agricultural agents. Up to March 31, 1917, 319 applicants were provided with 143,524 acres. One hundred and eighty were placed upon Crown lands and 131 upon land acquired under the land settlement act. The Government has provided suburban land suitable for market gardening, poultry farms, small areas of rural land adapted to bee- keeping, small farms suitable for dairying, fruit growing, etc. ; large holdings suitable for mixed farming; and pastoral country for graz- ing only. Thirty thousand nine hundred and fifty-six pounds have been paid to 143 soldiers. The rate of progress is, .however, hot entirely satisfac- tory. Of the 16,670 soldiers that have returned from the front up to May 1, 1918, only 624 have taken up land. It is claimed settlement is not pushed by the land board. UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA. No legislation of importance has been passed in the Union of South Africa making toward the settlement of soldiers. The Bi-itish South African Co. has 500,000 acres for settlement. There has also been formed the Royal Colony Institute with 2,000 acres of irrigable land. This land is to be divided into blocks of 30 and 40 acres, the latter to be the maximum to be allowed, although a settler may ac- quire further land outside of this area. The State will provide sta- tion officers and will, if necessary, arrange for the erection of such permanent improvements as are necessary, the cost of this under- taking to be added to the purchase price. The British South African Co.'s land is irrigable and they will clear the land of bush, stumps, and plow to a depth of 9 or 10 inches. Twenty per cent of the purchase price will be paid in six years and the balance in the four following years. A settler there will not pay interest in the first five years in which he is establishing himself. A working capital of $2,500 is considered necessary. (28) o i Si !