12 REPORT OF THE No. 3 



Province. The Act specifically exempts actual settlers and to get exemption 

 all that is necessary is to furnish the information on a form prescribed by the 

 Department and mailed to the settler. 



The sum of $157,551.83 was received for the year, or $81,463.15 more than 

 in 1927. It is fully expected that approximately a like amount will be collected 

 the coming year. 



Military Grants 



Following the South African war, where numbers of Canadians were engaged, 

 the Government, as a concession to Ontario veterans, passed legislation under 

 which each veteran was entitled to a location of 160 acres free, no particular 

 section at that time having been allocated for the purpose. Such sympathetic 

 treatment of the South African veteran gave rise to a demand for similar treat- 

 ment towards the veteran of 1866, and this class likewise was granted the priv- 

 ilege. In consequence no less than 13,998 certificates were issued and to date 

 but 1 ,024 are outstanding. Thousands of locations were made in the clay belt 

 and pulpwood regions and many of these have since passed to other holders who 

 exploit the timber thereon and who now very largely are reaping the benefit 

 that was intended to accrue to the veteran himself for services rendered his King. 

 A certain number accepted the alternative of surrendering the right to locate 

 for a cash consideration of $50.00. And as an amendment to the Act a few 

 years ago provides that no further allocation of land be made, a few of the out- 

 standing certificates are annually surrendered, this year the number being but 

 three. It is generally admitted that that public sentiment towards the returned 

 man obscured the vision of those wishing to concede him consideration and it 

 was never anticipated that hundreds of square miles of excellent territory would 

 be tied up indefinitely from the control of the Crown, as is the case in Northern 

 Ontario where extensive blocks of such veteran lands are alienated. When it is 

 realized that no obligations of settlement were imposed, the menace of these 

 unoccupied areas to surrounding country is appreciated. Legislative enact- 

 ments with a view to partly solving the problem have not materially affected the 

 situation. Up until recently such holdings situated in unorganized territory 

 were entirely free from taxation but now under the Provincial Tax Act they are 

 assessed and liable for taxation. 



Although the Veteran Act was passed in 1901, the Department still receives 

 enquiries from individuals desirous of applying for the grant, these parties but 

 now learning of the provisions for a grant. As the time limit for satisfying the 

 requirements of eligibility has long since passed the belated ones are exempt 

 from any benefits. 



Great War Veterans 



Although the keenest possible sympathy went out towards our Great War 

 returned men, the folly of the past was not perpetrated in their case and while 

 special provision was made whereby they might be given free locations of 160 

 acres each, it was always subject to the actual performance of settlement duties. 

 The result has not been gratifying as, generally speaking, the "get back and stay 

 on the land" spirit is absent. An indication of this is evident from the figures 

 during the last two years. In 1927, while 67 took advantage of so acquiring 

 land, 57 abandoned their holdings and were cancelled. In 1928, 45 were located 

 and a like number cancelled. 



