Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-10-10
$4,000, 900 FOR
SOLDIER RELIEF
SPENT BY CANADA

1900 individual ex-Servlce men VINO
have benefited from the law which
had for it's twin aims soldier re-
establishment and the development
OF the agricultural resources of the
dominion. 1t represents so per cent
of Canada's ex-service men who have
gone back to the land and 30 per
cent. of the men of the Canadian
Army who were demobilized as ply
sically fit.
Under the law any ex-service man
eligible from a military standpoint,
having seen service overseas, may
apply for loans up to a maximum OF
$500 for the following purposes:
for the purchase of land $500; for
stock and equipment $1,000: for per-
manent improvements $1,000. If on
encountered land, the ex-soldier is
entitled to loans amounting to $1,000;
if on free dominion land, to loans
amounting to $4,000. In the case Of
purchased land the settler must pay
10 per cent. of the cost price of the
land as a guarantee of good faith.
These benefits are open to men of
the Canadian Expeditionary Forces
to ex-service men of Great Britain,
the dominions and the Allied forces,
who lived in Canada prior to the war,
and to ex-service men of the imperial
or dominions forces, if on their ar
rival in Canada they spend a suff1-
cient time to gain practical agricul-
tural experience on Canadian farms.
The imperials, however, are repaired
to pay 20 per cent. of the expendi-
lures for all purposes cash down.
On July 81, the number of appli-
cations was 6O,S27, and OF these 43, 765
had been accepted as qualified to
farm. Nearly 1000 others are in
training with the intention of taking
up farms when qualified. OF the
2G,TO1 settled on the land, 2O,624
were granted loans. The others were
located on free dominion lands with
out financial assistance.
The Settlement Board adopted a
system of selection, requiring that
applicants must pass a rigid eX-
animation as to physical ability,
moral character and sincerity of pur-
pose, with the result that, out of the
J
the lund upwards OF two years, strict
supervision of their operations has
revealed the fact that only about 10
per cent. have failed to show promise
/ of satisfactory results. In some
cases, it has been found necessary
! to allow. the settler to withdraw
from his obligation and the board
| has taken over his farm and sold it
/ to another.
In 425 such cases, where the in
vestment of the government was ST.
6G2, 729, the government realized on
resale 81 .654 523, showing a loss of
only 5000 on each farm.
! The loans for land and permanent
improvements run for % years, those
, for stock and equipment for six
years with interest at five per cent.
No payments were due until the fall
of 1920, when 1921 men were liza
BILE. The number who made repay
ments was $3.50 and I, 439 made pre-
/ payments. There were 4O3 who re-
paid their entire loans
| In view of the collapse of the
markets in the middle of the thresh-
ing season and of the occurrence of
! drouth and other visitations last
| year in some localities in the West,
the government regards this state
ment as very satisfactory and it is
believed that a very few years will
! see most of these soldier farmers
well on their way to success. In
! deed. there are cases where settlers
/ aggregating in value more than the
] whole cost of their farms.
Alberta has the largest number of
soldier settlers, with 6,05S; Saskat-
chewan second, with 5,136: the other
provinces in the order named: Mani
| toba, 1919; British Columbia, 1915;
Ontario, 1,521: New Brunswick 543:
/ Nova Scotia 3S1; Quebec, 3G3; Prince
Edward Island, 800.
| In addition to the loan advantages
which O soldier settler has, the board
secures for him very favorable ar
I engagements with regard to the pur-
| chase of his stock and equipment.
Farm machinery manufacturers,
! lumber dealers, harness and wagon
| makers give special prices to soldier
settlers, in some cases. amounting to
| reduction of 80 per cent. In the
| purchase of equipment, the board
! has effected q saving of $3.50, S04.
1t also has saved. the settlers large
sums in land purchase. No inter-
mediary is permitted to take a rake
off on soldier farms; the land is
/ bought direct from the owner.
! The most important advantage,
however. is the supervision which
! the board gives to its settlers. It ad-
, vises him in all his operations until
satisfied that he is doing well and in
a position to carry on without as
sistance. 1t buys only what he needs,
not what he wants, in this way curb
ing his propensity for rash buying.
A home branch counsels and as
sists in whatever manner seems to
be desirable the dependents of the
settlers. This branch has secured
the cooperation of the Red Cross and
other societies in the establishment
or hospitals in remote areas and il
has brought thousands of the women
to centers of population for courses
! In home economics. which have
proved very interesting and helpful.
| This great establishment scheme.
which it is claimed is unrivaled in
the world, administered by a board
OF three: Major John Barnett. Ma
Jor +. j. Ashton, and Samuel Maber