24 THE CHANGES NEEDED 



form of capital of which the nation has most 

 need — food raised within its borders. 



The fourth need is the establishment of land 

 banks, to make advances to the settlers on the 

 security of the land, for all necessary preliminary 

 outlay, and for the maintenance of the settlers 

 and their families until the holdings become 

 profitable. It is not clear that such banks need 

 depend on Government where the holdings are, 

 as they should be, the property of the settlers. In 

 Western Canada privately owned banks do a 

 large business of this nature. That the business 

 is profitable is shown by the continual increase 

 in the number of branches opened ; that the 

 farmers benefit is showm by the steady growth 

 of Canadian agricultural prosperity. 



It would be difficult even to guess what per- 

 centage of discharged long-service sailors and 

 soldiers would have the requisite ability to work 

 profitably on small holdings. That many of 

 them would be able to do so, there is no ques- 

 tion. That many of them would not, there is 

 also no question ; yet it is to be hoped that the 

 number of pensioners thus furnished with a 

 good opportunity of settling would be at least 

 important. 



For these men, just as for all discharged 

 sailors and soldiers, of whatever length of ser- 

 vice, it is essential that work should always be 

 at once available ; and therefore a subsidiary 

 scheme would be required for all the long-service 

 men unable to .manage small holdings. There 

 are many people who think that, to meet these 



