Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-01-17

men is concerned with the psychology
zeal effect of the open-aiI' life OF the
trenches on men who have been used
to indoor occupation. large num-
bet of such men have general re-
luctance 10 follow their old calIlngs.
This is not regarded as an unmiXed
evil because it does not Involve such
wholesale discharge of temporary
orkers in industries where otherwise
such would have to be the case.
Each soldier at the front has been
asked to fill in d form stating as to
whether he desires 10 settle on the
land on his return from active serv-
ice. Something like 80 per cent. OF the
men enlisted in South Australia have
expressed their desire TO take up the
land, SO my government decided that
it would be unwise to allot men blocks
of land without first testing their ca
liabilities as future settlers. TO dump
q returned soldier down on the soil
with few acres and a few cows and
ask him to go ahead as best he could
would be to invite disaster. first for
him and then for the State. We,
therefore, have established soldier
training farms, discharged men being
eligible 20 accept free tuition at such
farms
The training period lasts from four
10 six months. During that time, the
men are paid the same wages as they
received when in military camp. name
~ a $3.50 day for seven days
week, with double rations for q mar
ried man. single rations for single
man and quarters. Comfortable bunk
houses are established for the single
men. while the married men and their
families occupy separate huts. School
provision and all other essentials are
also made available. During their
training period the men are instructed
in irrigation. dry farming, stock-rais-
ing and horticulture. the best experts
of the state agricultural departments
being made available to them. At the
end Of thu training period. the men
are allotted blocks of land either in
irrigation oreaS or in general farming
areas. varying from 20 acres up to 500
acres according to the nature of the
soil The irrigation blocks are pro-
vided with irrigation bitches and
fences and planted to 4 certain eN-
ttnt with fruit trees and alfalfa. while
Il house is also established and eight
cows are given to each man.
"All this is III the way of advance.
the maximum being $4,000. repayable
in installments atslow rates of interest.
the period of repayment extending
over to forty-two wears. a number
Of soldier settlers are being established
on these terms and are making good.
Under the act provided in each state,
the privileges granted to Australian
returned soldiers arc available TO Brit
ish returned men. Whether this will
be extended to all the Allies depends
to some extent on the financial re-
sources Of the states and the Com
monwealth. I should explain that the
liability for this expenditure devolves
upon the states while the common
wealth undertakes the advancing of the
money to the states for this purpose.
''rhe case of men who desire to set
UP in business is met by a special
Reratria tiun Board which investigates
each mans claim and is authorized
, to make advances as it thinks fit,
In such cases the personal equation
counts for Il great deal and some
losses must be expected. ont of funds
provided by private subscription, each
married soldier is entitled to $l25
worth of furniture as a gift
"'The financial problem involved by
the repatriation scheme has been care
fully considered by conferences of
State and Federal Premiers. II is not
free from great difficulties but Aus
tralia by THIS means is carrying into
effect Mr. RooscVelts suggestion to
fill up our waste spaces, thereby in
creasing the general production Of the
continent, adding to the earning power
of our railways and providing an army
of defense against any possible future
aggressOr. On grounds Of patriotism
as well as on grounds Of national Sc
curity, the repatriation scheme is felt
by Australia 10 he essential. At the
same time il makes good our promise
that men who have fought and suffered
for the nation shall not be losers by
their splendid act of self sacrifice.'