Thesis (M.Ed.)--York University, 2006. Graduate Programme in Education. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 130-136). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:MR29565

The legibility of the digitized copy is limited due to the quality of the original document. McMaster Digitization Centre, 9 March 2019. / 1. Brief summary of location, topographical, and agricultural features. 2. History. The history of R.M. of Fertile Belt, largely the history of settlement by “colonies”. 1884 – Founding of Round Lake Indian Mission (Presbyterian) by Rev. H. (Dr.) McKay. A short history of the work of this mission. 1886 – Founding of Kaposvar Hungarian Colony by Count Paul Esterhazy under direction of Lord Mount Stephen. C.P.R. and Federal Government co-operating. Grant of 125,000 acres. Location. First settlers from the United States. Reinforcements from Hungary in 1888. 1900 – Stockholm Hungarian colony daughter colony of Kaposvar. 1888 – Settlement of Bohemian, Slovak and other Slavonic elements in district north of Kaposvar. First settlers from mines of Pennsylvania. Bulk of settlers after 1900 from Austria and Poland. 1886 – July 1st – Founding of New Stockholm Scandinavian colony on the north bank of Qu’Appelle River above Round Lake. P.O. “Ohren”, founded in 1889. Building of the C.P.R. Kirkella-Saskatoon branch through Fertile Belt in 1902, also G.T.P. through the same area ten miles north in 1907. The significance of these roads and the consequent settlement and development. 3. Material Population Present status of the main national groups: Hungarian, Bohemian-Slavonic, and Scandinavian. Population of Fertile Belt and approximate numbers of each. Social life in early days of the colonies. The place of the church in community life. Traditions and customs of the old land transferred to the new. History and influence of churches in Fertile Belt. Church leaders as immigration and colonization agents for railroads and governments. Assimilation. The use of the Continental and English languages. The problem of the second generation, Education. Inter-marriage. 4. Institutional Development. Churches and schools. From Local Improvement District to Rural Municipality. Farm organizations. 5. Periods of Depression and Methods of Relief. Difficulties of early settlement including: Drought of 1891-92. Low prices of agricultural products and their relation to other commodities. Long distance to markets. The period centering on 1906-07, with some statistics relating to prices of farm products. Period following The Great War. Review of Loan, Mortgage and Debt situation which developed chiefly in and during the five years following the War. Approximate numbers of farmers involved. Possibilities of recuperation. Three dry years, 1929-30-31. Average yields. Summer 1931 R.M. Fertile Belt included in Provincial Relief area. Taxes, the mill rate, methods of collection. School taxes, difficulties of keeping schools in operation, low rates of teachers’ salaries. The compulsory tax collection act of 1932 passed by the Provincial House. The forced return to the farm and the community as an economic unit. The greater emphasis on mixed farming. The “Bennett” wagon, the spinning wheel, and home grown “coffee”. Depression psychology, including attitude to creditors. Some remarks on the depression as it affects the standard of living, education, morals and the opportunities of the rising generation. Effects of depression on the social and religious life of the community. Inclusion of R.M. Fertile Belt in Provincial Relief Area, “C” division, August 1931. (1) Direct Relief: Red Cross operating through municipal office. Notes in payment for clothing. Direct relief given by municipality in form of orders on local stores. (2) Indirect Relief: Road work paid for by orders on local stores, a public work program supported jointly by province and municipality. Road work in payment for taxes, a municipal project. Construction of Highway No. 9 through R.M. of Fertile Belt. A provincial relief project, the farmer working under government contractor. Payment in cash. General comments on the efficiency, utility, and feasibility of the above projects. (3) Feed Relief. Price. Quality. Terms of repayment. Amounts of hay and grain distributed. Administration. (4) Seed Relief. Price. Quality. Amounts. Terms of repayment. Administration. / Thesis / Master of Arts (MA)