148 irEPOKT OF THP: No.- 3 



baggage-room and laundry were built to fully provide I'or tlic eoinfort of those in 

 training. 



On June 14tli the first lot of men arrived, twenty -seven in all. Some of them 

 were men with farm experience, while others had never worked a day on a farm. 

 In view of this fact wo were not surprised to find that, as time ])assed by, some of 

 them decided that it would not be in their own best interests to carry on with the 

 scheme. Any man deciding to quit was provided with free trans])ortation back to 

 his home. On the whole, the majority of the men showed an interest in the work 

 and were willing to do their best. Certain conditions, peculiar to pioneer life, 

 at times caused some of the men to wonder as to the advisability .of staying with 

 the scheme, but, as they became more accustomed to the work and more interested, 

 these difficulties did not appear so formidable. 



The men are required to do all kinds of farm work and are entitled to receive 

 lectures of a practical nature on the most important farm subjects. Practical 

 foremen arc placed over the men to instruct them in the best methods of land 

 clearing, bush work, care of stock, etc. While in training the men are paid a wage 

 equal to current wages. 



By way of making permanent })rovision to look after the agricultural welfare of 

 those desiring to take advantage of the scheme, a large and thoroughly up-to-date 

 building is being erected. This building will have accommodation for sixty men 

 and is provided with all modern conveniences. No effort is l)eing s])ared on the 

 part of the Government to make things as comfortable as possible for the men. A 

 rather extensive scheme is being })lanned whereby this new school may be -used in 

 future years as a place of instruction and education, where the liolding of short 

 courses in agriculture and domestic science, for the benefit of Temiskaming settlers, 

 will take place. 



During the })ast summer sixty men ])assed through the regular course of train- 

 ing. Of these, thirteen decided io give up the scheme, as they considered it would 

 not be in their own best interests to 'follow it through. The other forty-six have 

 decided to go on to the Colony Farm at Kapuskasing, where a large tract of land is 

 held, in 100-acre lots, for settlement. At Kapuskasing the men are settled on 

 farms which in time become their own if they fcfualify and fill required regulations. 



Naturally, on account of the scheme being a new thing, it will take time to 

 work out all details so that it may be carried on in the best possible interests of the 

 men in training. Those in charge have had to look after considerable work in con- 

 nection with the improvement and building of new farm buildings. The com- 

 pletion of these will allow closer attention to details in 'the carrying out of wofk 

 regarding the men in training. 



While pioneer conditions still exist in the upper part of the district and settlers 

 are required to put u}) with many inconveniences, the substantial way in which the 

 Government is prepared to help all returned men desirous of taking advantage of 

 the scheme, will entirely eliminate many hardships which the average settler has to 

 put up with, ^iuch, of course, depends on the men themselv(>^ as to whether they 

 become successful in the scheme. Tlie Government is making it ]iossible for them 

 to help themselves and, in so doing, have substantially provided means of looking 

 after all important matters connected with the successful carrying out and com- 

 pletion of the scheme. Time alone will show results, which, because of the fact 

 that the soil of the Clay Belt is fertile and productive, leaves little doubt but that 

 they will be advantageous to those most vitally cohcerned. 



* - C. F. Batlky, 



'■ ■'• Assv^tnnt Deputy Min{.'<ier of AgricuUtfre. 



