LAND SETTLEMENT AND EDUCATION 



THE LABOURER 



In the preceding lecture I endeavoured to show that 

 we have in this country no system of Land Settle- 

 ment worthy of the name. If, therefore, we are to 

 build up a strong agricultural population and develop 

 the resources of our land, we shall have to create 

 machinery competent of dealing with the question 

 on a comprehensive and effective scale. 



On general grounds I am strongly in favour of local 

 affairs being managed by local authorities, but where 

 there is a function which local authorities cannot 

 properly fulfil it is not wise to ask them to attempt 

 to do so. Land Settlement is one of these functions. 



This principle of administration was understood 

 as far back as the days of Queen Elizabeth when 

 there were three land settlement commissioners 

 who resided in London ; and we are following a good 

 precedent when we ask that any comprehensive 

 scheme of land settlement shall be dealt with by a 

 Central Authority. 



Whether this Central Authority would be a Land 

 Commission, analogous to the Development Com- 

 mission, working under the Minister of Agriculture, 

 or a new department of the Board of Agriculture, 

 the essential point is that it should be comprised 

 of men who have made a deep study of the science 

 of home colonisation, know the principles that have 

 made successful land settlement possible in every 



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