The Lend Settlement Bill, which is intended to redeem the
Government's pledge that discharged sailors and soldiers should have full opportunities of settling on the land, was published on Wednesday. The Bill simplifies the over-elaborate procedure of the Small-Holdings Act. During the next two years a County Council may buy or hire land compulsorily without waiting for the,consent of the Board of Agriculture, and it may take posses. sion of the land at fourteen days' notice, leaving the compensa. tion to be assessed and paid later. If the Board of Agriculture fends a County Council neglectful of its duty, the Board itself may, during the next two years, provide small-holdings and allotments. For seven years the Board will refund to the Councils any loss which they may incur on their small-holdings. The Treasury is authorized by the Bill to advance L20,000,000 between now and 1921 to the Local Authorities, who will thus have both the power and the money to provide entall-holdings in far greater numbers than ever before. We hope that the County Councils will rise to the opportunity and use their new powers for the benefit of the men who have deserved so well of the country.
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