114 RURAL SOCIOLOGY 



ways accept their environing opportunities for enjoying the 

 higher life of mind and heart. But do they differ in this respect 

 from their cousins of the town ? 



SOLDIER SETTLEMENTS IN ENGLISH-SPEAKING 

 COUNTRIES * 



ELWOOD MEAD 



ALL English-speaking countries except the United States have 

 passed special soldier settlement legislation and made appropria- 

 tions therefor. "Where good free land exists he is usually given 

 assistance in the individual purchase of private land, or such 

 private land is purchased by the State in blocks. In countries 

 like England, New Zealand, Victoria, and New South Wales it 

 is largely a question of resuming land. 



When land-settlement boards do not already exist they have 

 had to be created, except in the case of Ontario and some of the 

 other Canadian Provinces, which are using their minister of 

 lands, their agricultural, and forestry departments for this 

 purpose. 



Handling applications and placing soldiers is largely decen- 

 tralized and in the hands of voluntary local committees. 



The English and Canadian method of settlement is to estab- 

 lish central farms on which to try out crops, to employ and train 

 settlers, stock them with animals and implements for the use of 

 the settlers, and about these farms to lay out farm blocks of 

 varying dimensions. The Australian plan is to follow the policy 

 of closer settlement already laid down and so successfully 

 prosecuted. 



Explicit data concerning total appropriations are not avail- 

 able. The usual method is to start the work with a small appro- 

 priation and to add to it as required. In the case of Canadian 

 Provinces and the Dominion, funds come from an appropriation 

 for general development, probably derived from taxation; in 

 England it is a disbursement from the treasury; in New Zea- 

 land and Australia the funds are derived wholly from the sale 

 of bonds in the London market. 



i Adapted from Bulletin. Department of the Interior, U. S. Reclamation 

 Service (1919). 



