Mr. Rider Haggard, who some months ago was sent to
America by the Colonial Office to inquire. into the settlement schemes organised by the Salvation Army, has issued a Report which is both a valuable account of an interesting and successful experiment, and an indication of a possible solution for some of our unemployed problems. He found in the three great Salvation Army settlements that under proper conditions indigent labourers, chosen from town and country alike, could be settled on the land and made to prosper. The result has encouraged him to propose a National Land Settlements Act, under which a loan is to be raised under a Government guarantee to advance the necessary capital on mortgage to settlers. The Canadian Government have offered land free of cost, and Mr. Haggard thinks that the Salvation Army organisation, working under the control of an Imperial officer, could be trusted to select competent settlers from the poor of the great cities. The scheme has obiious difficulties, but it is at auy rate a suggestion which is well worth the most serious consideration. The problem is primarily an economic one, and much would depend upon the cost of transport, the care shown in selection, and the possibility of early returns, for unless the advances per settler could be kept low, there would be small chance of making a, real impression upon our con- gested districts.
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