COLONIES 69 



type. As to the price, I have no doubt that large 

 areas of suitable land could be obtained at an average 

 price of twenty-five pounds per acre ; and in 

 addition there is Crown Land available, the appro- 

 priation of which would entirely save the initial 

 expense of purchase. 



In regard to the question : " Whether ex-Service 

 men are likely to make satisfactory settlers and 

 make a good living from the land," it must be 

 remembered that many of the soldiers serving in 

 the New Armies are highly intelligent men with a 

 good business training. If a man has these two 

 qualifications there is no reason why he should not 

 succeed admirably as a small holder if he is settled 

 on the land under conditions which will make for 

 success — including expert advice at every step — 

 especially if he can have six months' preliminary 

 training. 



This training could be given in several ways. 

 First of all, each colony should have a fair-sized 

 demonstration farm where a certain number of men 

 should receive training before actually taking up 

 holdings of their own. In addition our agricultural 

 colleges should be used for this purpose to the 

 fullest extent. Again, as far as possible, it should 

 be arranged for the settler to take possession of his 

 holding in October, for this would give him all the 

 winter months in which to receive practical instruc- 

 tion right on his own holding. Perhaps it is in this 

 way that the largest number of men could most 

 easily receive this necessary training and post-war 

 wages will be higher than pre-war wages. 



If, as it seems reasonable to assume, there is such 



