Grand Forks daily herald., 1916-03-09
FARMS FOR ALL
HER SOLDIERS
England Hopes to Provide
Homes and Employment
for All Fighting Men.

London. March e.-(Correspond-
ence OF The Associated Press)-Thou-
sands OF soldiers and sailors now
fighting under the British flag will be-
come farmers after the war if a plan
adopted by a committee appointed by
the Board of Agriculture to study the
problem Of what to do with the eX-
fighting men is carried out. 1t is
hoped TO get the scheme under way
as soon as posi- bic in order to provide
employment and a home for disa bled
fighting men now returning from the
front
The essence Of the plan is that the
state should acquire a considerable
area Of agricultural land and should
establish thereupon colonies Of small
holders. These small holders would
be the tenants of the state, and they
would be subject to a certain amount
OF state tutelage. 1t is proposed that
there should be in each colony a resi-
dent director and an instructor, and
that there should be a central depot
Tor the sale Of produce and for the
purchase of farming requisites. So
clal amenities are also to be provided
for by the esta blishment of women's
institutes for the settlers wives.
To get under way this plan of home
settlements which it has been suggest
ed would revolutionize rural life in
England, the committee says 100000
600 should be placed at the disposal of
the Board Of Agriculture, together
with three pioneer colonies, of 5000
acres in all. The initial cost of es-
"a olshlng three colonies to accommo-
cate 800 families, the committee esti-
mates. at about s1,50O,000.
Besides providing employment for
the soldiers and sailors, the commit
zee points out the advantages Of the
Plan for the development of the agri-
culture of the country.
The rehabilitation Of the navy
and army at the close Of the war will
aHo.G unique opportunity of de-
TEloplng agriculture in this country"
says its report. 1T is Of the utmost
Importance 70 the welfare Of the ma
ton ,fSat this opportunity should be
seiZec and turned 10 the greatest pos
siole advantage. The men who have
joined the forces include representa-
t!Tes cf all the bes, elements of our
population. many Of them possess a
hiEh degree Of enterprigc and intel
lizence, and II any substantial num-
Der can he attracted TO seek a career
griHuius 10 the agriculture of the
country"
u III proposed 10 have each colony
consist NJ fDur-acre holdings, with
piEEty, tOOlhOuEe and portable fowl
house, huts for unmarried men, sales
depot and store, jam creamery or
chccse factory. central farm, state
credit bank. recreation grounds and
club room and village hall to provide
a social center.
Tho central farm under a direct OF
would be equipped with implements
which could be hired by the settlers
Settlers could have preliminary train
Ing at the central farm before takinc
up holdings.
1t is suggested that the military
nuts scattered all over the country al
the present time should be converted
INTO cottages and farm buildings, and
ihat army wagons and horses should
be allotted to the farm colonies q fter
the war.
In outlining it's plan the committee
says It's recognizes that OF the tota
number of discharged soldiers who
under this scheme may be willing tc
become tenant farmers of the state q
certain proportion have already lived
and worked on the land. The Others
Will naturally need some preliminary
training before they are able to take
over their own holdings. This train.
ing. In the opinion Of the committee
Will be best given by the temporary
employment OF such men at a fair liv.
ing wage on. central farm under the
control OF a; manager appointed by
the Board of Agriculture.
These would be given in addition tc
their wages In cash a cottage with g
garden, and as soon as they showed
promise Of efficiency a portion of the
land near their cottages would be lei
to them