§ 20. Mr. P. A. HARRISasked how many soldiers are settled on the land provided by his Department for disabled soldiers; whether he has now exhaused his powers of purchase; and whether he intends to seek powers from Parliament to buy more land for this purpose?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (SirRichard Winfrey)There are at the present time twenty ex-soldiers at work on the colonies. These men have been selected from 266 applicants, of whom eighty-eight are men still serving in the forces and are not, therefore, immediately eligible, 100 have been definitely rejected as not likely to make successful settlers or have withdrawn their applications, and fifty-three arc under consideration. In reply to the remainder of the question, the Board have cither bought or leased land up to the limit named in the Small Holding Colonies Act, 1916, and a Bill will shortly be introduced with the object of extending their powers of obtaining additional land for the purpose.
§ Mr. HARRISWill the Bill be produced this Session?
§ Sir R. WINFREYYes.
§ Major HUNTWill the hon. Member say if the Board is going to buy anything like land enough for the number of soldiers who want to go back on the land; is this going to be a really big affair or the usual Government tinkering?
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEAs you have only placed some twenty of these men on the 1850 land, is there any reasonable possibility of dealing with land settlement under these conditions?
§ Sir R. WINFREYThese colonies are being prepared for men on demobilisation.
§ Sir R. COOPERAre we going to wait until the end of the War before any discharged soldiers are put on to the land? Are they not wanted more to-day than after the War?
§ Sir R. WINFREYWe have already had 266 applications, of which 100 have been definitely rejected as not being likely to become successful settlers; 53 cases are under consideration of men who have been demobilised, and 88 are still in the Army.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEHow long has it taken to settle twenty men on the land, and when did the operation start?
§ Sir R. WINFREYEighteen months.
§ Mr. PENNEFATHERAre any steps taken to train these men and fib them for taking up these holdings?
§ Sir R. WINFREYThe Small Holding Colonies Act is limited to men who have had agricultural experience who want to settle on the land. This is not a training colony.