The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-03

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2. Any British subject resident II
Canada before the war who has beer
engaged in active service in an actua
theatre Of war in the naval or militar.
forces OF any of his Majestys allies IL
the present war and who has left tn
forces with an honorable record.
8. Tho widow of any such persol
described above who dies on active ser
vice.
Nearly 5000 Applications Ap
| proved.
From March till May Is there hav
been nearly 5000 APPLICATIONS by tn,
qualification committees In the Who'll,
of the Dominion. over 1900 Of thes.
are In Alberta; Saskatchewan has 6
total OF 1864; Manitoba, 1886; British
Columbia, 964; Ontario, 426; Quebec
115; New Brunswick. 189; Nova Scotia
ia; Prince Edward Island, 104. The
board has already received 9.s28 appli-
cations for the benefits of the land
scheme ; and as rehabilitation proceeds
| this number is being added to with great
rapidity.
The Offices OF the board. particularly
In the great West are being beseged
by young men who are anxious to get
they cannot get on this year. many of
them are willing to undertake to 60 on
farms as students this season, when
they will have a better opportunity of
looking about and OF surveying the
possibilities of acquiring their own land
and getting an early start next year.
The soldier settlement board Is carry
ing on an investigation in the prairie
provinces Manitoba, Saskatchewan
n mr. oA xr-ffh nf
tanning any areas of land that may be
suitable for soldier settlement which
are contained in forest reserves or which
are held under grazing leases A num-
Der OF these reserves will be held by
the Government until rehabilitation is
complete. 80 that the men who return
later this year will have an equal op-
portunity with those who came home
first to select Dominion lands. 1t is
expected that these reserves and newly
opened territories will provide the OPP
portunity of settlement OF many return-
ed sohSrs under the homestead regula-
lions.
Immense -Areas Available.
There are, of course, immense areas of
arabic land that would be available for
this purpose II there were adequate
means OF communication. Canada has
thrown her doors open to many thou
sands OF aliens who have pioneered the
vast reaches Of Western Canada in ad-
vance Of railway lines: but 1t Is not
thought advisable to encourage the vet
Grams OF the great war who are eager
to go on free homesteads TO settle at a
| greater distance than Is miles from
market facilities. For this reason the
homestead feature OF the soldier land
| settlement policy has not been empha-
sized The demand OF the soldiers has
been 30 great that 1t was deemed ad-
visable early this year to assist them to
purchase improved farms in any prov
ince of the Dominion.
There is another feature, however
which has yet been only partly worked
out. namely that OF settling returned
men on small holdings close to large
centres OF population. In Ontario It is
suggested that these small farms should
be located by veterans who are suffering
from some physical disability and who
! are In receipt of pensions. Several op-
tons are suggested. the outlay ranging
from $500 to $4,000, which may be
morrowed from the board to be repaid
| in twenty-five years. One option, for
| Instance. provides for the acquisition OF
from three to five acres OF land at q
cost of $500 with equipment, which
| would bring the investment up to $1,000
This would include the purchase Of a
horse. COW and a few chickens.
Opportunities on Prsiries.
Three options are suggested FOR nc
prairie provinces:
| l. From two TO Ave acres for market
gardening. particularly for men receiv-
ing pensions
. From five to fifteen acres for
! yrith
3. From twenty 10 eighty acres fol-
market gardening, poultry and dairy.
Ing, with pigs or bees.
Similar Investigations are being con.
Quoted in the other provinces.
comprehensive and carefully stud
led measure ito assist soldiers in set
Ting upon the land" was introduced ir
Inc House on May ~. 1t embraces tn,
soldier settlement act Of 1917. which
provided an additional quarter sector
OF homestead lands TO each soldier oyeI
ana above his homestead right and en-
abled assistance to be given to soldier.
| on land by way of a loan upon thos,
lands on the ordinary loan basis; but 4
! goes far beyond that. 1t ratifes various
orders In Council which have been pass.
ed and acted upon since the last session
OF Parliament, provides for the acquire.
ment by purchase of privately owned idle
lands may be acquired other than by
agreement, namely compulsorily and BY
| appropriation. The appropriation clauses
or the new bill contain means weherby
under settlement area" scheme land.
that are being retarded from cultivation
are set aside as settlement areas' ant
are thereby made subject to the compul
sorry provisions OF the law.
The fundamental purpose Of the Who'll,
enterprise upon which Canada 1.
launched is, as already said, TO builC
into the basic Industrial structure OF
this Dominion as large a proportion a,
possible OF the best blood and capacit,
or our country. 1t is hoped as well. tc
add to Canadian agriculture many Of tn,
most vigorous and virile out OF the othe,
armies OF the empire. Every indication
points to the fair fulfilment OF this pur.
pose; and indeed 1t seems likely that a,
a stimulant to the most desirable immi
grafton the Canadian soldier settlement
plan will prove the most fruitful Of any
yet applied.