254 THE HIGH COST OF LIVING 



the colonists by the state. Speaking of these re- 

 sults of this settlement policy, the premier 0/ Vic- 

 toria, in his budget speech in 1914, said: 



"The settlement policy is a demonstrated success. 

 Over large areas in widely separated districts more 

 than ten times as many families are settled com- 

 fortably under attractive social conditions as were 

 there five years ago, and they are obtaining returns 

 from their holdings that even less than five years 

 ago were regarded as impossible. The demonstra- 

 tion that famihes can be fully employed and obtain 

 a comfortable living on from 20 to 40 acres of irriga- 

 ble land not only insures the financial success of 

 our investment in irrigation works but gives a new 

 conception of the ultimate population which this 

 state will support and the agricultural wealth it 

 will produce." 



The land-settlement policies of all these countries 

 are substantially alike. They provide for the pur- 

 chase of land by the government or the use of the 

 public domain. The land is divided into holdings 

 which can be cultivated without the aid of other 

 labor. The size of the holdings depends upon the 

 nature of the soil and the kinds of crops produced. 

 Applicants for farm ownership are examined to as- 

 certain their fitness and general moral worth. The 

 would-be farmer is required to make an initial 

 deposit of possibly 10 per cent, of the total capital 

 outlay as an assurance of good faith. The farm, 

 when sold, is equipped with a dwelling and out- 



