ABSTRACT
THE DISTRESS of the early nineties led to experiments in land settlement in every State, group settlement occupying the centre of attention.1 In every case, this was State-aided but in some the settlers pooled their produce and worked in common, while in others the emphasis still remained on individual effort. The experiment, like so many others, began in New Zealand in 1886 and was introduced to Australia (1891), when Queensland set up small townships encircled by blocks held by the villagers.2
