CANADA’S FARMERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3357, 25 October 1911, Page 8

CANADA’S FARMERS.

HOW THE GOVERNMENT HELPS.. FREE LAND FOR SETTLERS. “How Canada Helps Her Farmers” was the title of an interesting address by Mr. W. A. Beddoe (Canadian Trade Commissioner) to members of the Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association recently. Mr J. At. Phillips presided over a good attendance. At the outset Mr. Beddoe said that in giving particulars of what Canada did for her farmers he had no desire to induce people to leave New Zealand for Canada, as this was not the policy of the Canadian Government. No Government, said Mr. Beddoe, gave so much assistance to farmers as the Canadian Government. First of all, the Government gave intending settlers 160 acres of free land, giving the settler six months to enter upon the land, and making a provision that he would have to reside on the land for six months in the year for three years. A foreigner could enter for a homestead, but lie must become naturalised before he could take up the land. Summarising the benefits the Cana-' dian Government gave to farmers, Mr. Beddoe said they were: Free land, freight rates controlled by the Government, low taxation, free entry of personal effects, schools for settlers’ children, guidance as to the best methods to employ in cheese and butter making or the growing of crops, cow-testing experiments with the result placed at the isposal •• i the fanner, new markets sought out by Government for the farmer, iced cars under Government supervision to carry produce to the ports, bonuses to creameries to provide a proper system of cold storage, experimental farms maintained by Government and advice given to farmers of the character of grain and when and how deep to sow in any given locality, and farmers’ produce examined by Government at the port of leaving and placed in cool storage under Government inspectors. “The result,” concluded the lecturer, “was a prosperous, contented people, and a country rapidly advancing towards her ultimate destiny as a loyal, rich, and powerful nation within the British Empire.”