208 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 



supplied with machinery, tools, live stock, poultry, etc., up to a maxi- 

 mum value of $500, and will get reasonable assistance in the erection 

 of his house and barn. Repayment of the advances will be deferred 

 for three years, and then will be made by instalments payable over 

 a period of twenty years. 



In the community headquarters there will be an adequate supply 

 of horses and implements for common use and the Government will 

 assist in marketing such products as pulpwood and in co-operation 

 in purchases and sales. It is also the intention of the Government 

 to provide good roads and to organize social life by means of lectures, 

 moving pictures, etc. As one colony proves successful others will be 

 opened. Men will also be assisted to take up land in old Ontario 

 as well. 



The Toronto Daily News has expressed the belief that the pro- 

 vincial treasury would make no mistake if it were to set aside $1,- 

 000,000 or $2,000,000 from the proceedings of the war tax for the loca- 

 tion of time-expired soldiers upon the soil under favourable conditions 

 in the older and newer parts of Ontario. 



In other provinces commissions have been at work considering 

 the best means of giving aid to soldiers, and legislation has been under 

 consideration to afford assistance similar to that which has been given 

 in Ontario. 



In British Columbia a Returned Soldiers Aid Commission was 

 appointed as early as November, 1915. This commission has since 

 reported,* and has recommended that the advantages of co-operative 

 farm settlements should be available to all returned soldiers. They 

 argue that the problem of providing for the returned soldiers is of so 

 complex a nature that it should be the object of a Federal enquiry. 



A recommendation of the Commission is that a board of commis- 

 sioners should be appointed to select suitable lands and to direct the 

 preliminary operations in connection with their development; that 

 the board acquire lands to carry out a scheme of co-operative land 

 settlement of at least sixty allotments within easy reach of transpor- 

 tation and markets, and reserving sufficient acreage for a demonstra- 

 tion farm, recreation grounds, etc. All farms are to have easy access 

 to the central organization plant and good roads are to be constructed. 

 Stores, public halls, schools, etc., are to be situated in a central village. 



The Commission recommended that a sum not to exceed $500 

 should be spent on farm implements for each allotment, and that the 

 Government lend up to $1,350 at a low rate of interest for a long term 

 to enable the settler to erect farm buildings, purchase machinery, etc. 



* Report of the Returned Soldiers' Aid Commission (British Columbia) 1916. 



