RURAL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT 247 



"Whereas, thousands of American citizens have petitioned mem- 

 bers of Congress for an investigation of the movement both in Europe 

 and the United States; Therefore be it 



"Resolved, that the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Fores- 

 try be authorized and requested to hear and consider such testimony 

 as may be produced before said committee in Washington regarding 

 this movement both in Europe, in the United States, and elsewhere, 

 and to report its findings to the Senate." 



It is significant that this resolution was referred for considera- 

 tion to the Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, indicating that 

 it is the rural rather than the urban aspect of the movement which is 

 being first investigated. 



One of the main objects in carrying out the suggestion to create 

 combined agricultural and industrial settlements would be to provide 

 opportunities for -the employment of returned soldiers in varied kinds 

 of productive enterprises in both rural and urban areas. 



These settlements would also be invaluable as a practical demon- 

 stration of town building and land development. Social progress in 

 England during the last fifteen years has been greatly influenced 

 as a result of the one experiment in industrial development and housing 

 which has been carried out at Letch worth. 



Before initiating any comprehensive policy to establish new centres 

 of population it might, however, be more prudent to begin by devel- 

 oping one new manufacturing and agricultural town, where systems 

 of rural and urban land development could be tried out, where oppor- 

 tunities for varied kinds of employment could be provided, where 

 the strength and weakness of different methods could be tested, and 

 where there could be evolved, by a process of practical experience, 

 the soundest economic principles on which development should be 

 guided in the future. 



The Problem of the Returned Soldiers and Social 

 Re-Adjustment after the War 



The reinstating of ex-service men into industrial and social life 

 and otherwise dealing with problems of re-adjustment of employment 

 after the war, should be dealt with by municipalities under the guidance 

 of provincial departments of local government. 



Provision should be made for placing ex-service men in suitable and 

 congenial vocations either in rural or in urban localities, wherever their 

 abilities can be put to the best use, where it is reasonably certain that ade- 

 quate reward can be obtained for their labour, and where facilities for 

 social intercourse and education are available. 



