210 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



JoLY 12, 1919. 



alternative is for the State to assist these woulii-be 

 planters. 



There has been diiriug the war, both in Eng- 

 land and France, in fact throughout all territo- 

 ries directly aft'ected by the war, a huge housing 

 organization in the forai of the Young Men's 

 Christian Association. The Governments of certain 

 tropical colonies might well imitate this system and 

 erect accommodation huts for the reception of 

 immigrant capitalists Such aecommodatioi), attached 

 to the agricultural and experiment stations, would 

 serve excellently the two purposes of chi'ip living 

 and instni -tion— the two things the moderate 

 •capitalist from abroad reipiires. It must be clearly 

 understood that a means of living cheaply isrecjuired, 

 similar to what has been passible in the services during 

 the war — something less than half a dollar a day. 

 This would only be possible with a mess coiisisting of 

 a considerable number of men. As a corollary, 

 cheap or free steamship passages would be required. 



These suggestions must be regarded in the 



light of post-war measures. They involve an element 



•of generosity. Colonial Governments have not fared so 



badly during the war that this would be out of the 



■ question. 



Another important matter is the possession of 

 suitable land. This means not merely fertile land, 

 but land that has proper communication with the 

 coast. If load construction is out of the ijuestion, or 

 what is eijually important, if there are insuperable 

 labour difhculties, then it would be unprincipled to 

 • attract the young capitalist. 'I'he experiences of some 

 . British planters in Dominica have caused to some 

 extent West Imiian colonization to fall into disrepute. 

 'Care must be taken in future to secure for those who 

 decide to settle, the necessary means of conveying the 

 ■estate produce down to the coast for shipment. 



Before concluding this article, we may draw atten- 

 tion to an admirable system of colonization adopted 

 in Rhodesia, by the Khodesia C)mpany. This com- 

 pany has large l;inii concessions, an<i a part of this land 

 {•> under cultivation. \'oung capitalists are. got out 

 from England. They are given jobs on one or other of 

 the estates, paid a small salary, and are housed. At the 

 end of a year or two yef»rs, if they prove their capa- 

 bilities, they are provi(l6d with land in which they 

 , invest their capital, and hence begin in the best 

 possible way to ensure success. 



This system has attracted many demobilized offi- 

 cers, but there are still many more who await similar 

 -opportunities for taking up planting in the tropics 

 .-or subtropics. The life i? well suited for partially 

 disabled officera — those who suffer from physical 



disabilities would had less manual work necessary 

 than in England or America. On many estates riding 

 is necessary, but the advent of the motor car has 

 greatly reduced dependence on the horse as a general 

 means of transport. For disabled men who suffer from 

 lung trouble or nervous disorder, nothing could be 

 better than living continuously in the open air in a 

 warm climate. Jloreover, West Indian life is cheerful, 

 and offers amusements and recreations at a cost tar 

 below that in northern countries. 



It remains for authorities in the different West 

 Indian colonies to consider what they can do. Com- 

 mitees should be appointed, and these committees 

 should ccme to an early decision and communicate 

 through the necessary channels with the War Office. 



NOTE: Since the above article was written it 1ms been 

 learnt that tiie British Govennjient has adu|)ted a schoiiie ti> 

 coiniilete, at [mblic exijeiise, the aijricultuial training of a limited 

 number of officers and men of ei|iial standing, at colleges or 

 farms situated in the Doiniiiinns and Colonies. .\ small ]iro- 

 piirtion may be sent to the West Indies and receive instruc- 

 tion at one or other tif the Agricultural Departments. It is 

 proposed to allow these men £12U ayear for two yeai-s, and as far 

 ;is it goes, tlie scheme is a good move in the right direction. Tha 

 scheme is linnted, Imwever, to not more than MOll men, and these 

 for settlement in all parts of the Empire that allord opportuni- 

 ties. The scheme, furthermore, ap[iears to cater only for tlmse 

 who have already received an agricultural education. There is 

 still a large surplus of the shss referred to in our editorial, 

 l^nless this Government scheme is extended, or action taken as 

 indicated in our editorial, a large numbei- of men will be 

 denied an eccui>ation in life that appeals to tliem. 



ASSISTED SETTLERS IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



In connexion with the editorial in this issue, the 

 loliowmg extract from an article in a recent issue of 

 The Field will bo found very interesting reading : — 



l>ee grants of land are not made in South Africa as 

 in Canada, bu' the Union (jovernment renders monetary 

 and educational assistance to settlers, and has irrigable settle- 

 rnents in various stages of preparation . . . The Govern- 

 ment has successfully developed small holdings in the 

 Transvaal of about 200 acr' s each, the crops growing being 

 tetf grass, mealies and potatoes, ft also offers fauns in the 

 Northern Transvaal suitable for stock-breeding, and (more 

 particularly in the Uublcnburg District) some promising 

 experiments with cotton hive been made. .Much of the 

 land is fir from railways but the prices are |f)W, about 

 Is 3'/. to 3s. 9(1. per dcie. Holdings on the fringe of the 

 Kalahari have been taken up at |)rices varying from 9(/. to 

 l.<. ()(/. per acre These low values indicate certain dr;Vw- 

 backs, such as distancfl from town or rail, poor feed, . and 

 scarcity of water. Obviously the settler must make. .the 

 fullest inijuiries. It is quite |)robable that there will ))& 

 big railway developments before very long — a prospect to 

 be watched. .Sugar-cane growing in /ululand h^ts been 

 successful, and the ( lovernment hop-s to be able to fchrow 

 open for allotment more land for that parpo.He. From time 

 to time farBis are acquired by Government in various parts 



