BRITAIN'S SMALL HOLDINGS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 336, 24 October 1908, Page 3

BRITAIN'S SMALL HOLDINGS.

CREAT SUCCESS. AN INTERESTING OUTLINE. ■ Great interest necessarily attaches-, to tho British Government's experiment with a systorn of' small holdings; and the'success now reported make's welcome reading. Lord Carrington's Opinion. Lord Carrington, president of tho British Board of Agriculture, in an interview published in the " British Australasian," said: " The first result of tho Small Holdings Act has been to demonstrate tho existence of a land hunger, a fact that has in the past been denied. The Act, which refers to England and Wales, has only been in operation seven months, and already applications have been received for 300,000 acres-from 20,000 peoplo. Examinations made by somo of the county councils.show that about 80 per cent, of the applicants are eminently suitable." It Stops Emigration. " Tho applicants have on an average applied for from 12 to 15 acres, and up to 50 'acres. A considerable proportion are agricultural labourers; practically all are, connected with the £oil; many of the most suitable are sons of small farmers—the class who, if they cannot get land in England, go to Canada. In : onc instance l I have handed over 700 acres of Crown lands to a parish council for. the establishment of small holdings, and it is an interesting fact that the enthusiastic chairman _is one of seven brothers, six of whom have gone to Canada in search of land." Tho Villagers' Savings. "Tho county council as a rule requires the possession of £5 for every acre applied for. All have this, and most more. It is really a 'most surprising thing to find tho amount of money that has been stored up in the villages. It is not to bo found in savings bank returns, and sometimes it is kept in a stocking. Cases have been known of applicants bringing 100 sovereigns and planking them down on tho table before tho county "council committee as evidence of possession." Compulsory Purchase. "The councils are now faced with the demand, but have not yet had time to do much in the way of acquiring land; hut- 4000 acres have already been acquired, ..and before tho 'end of the year a considerable area will be in 'their hands. It is likely that they will not' be able to get all tho land required by voluntary 'agreement, and then power of compulsory 1 acquisition will have to be exercised. Tho'Act is drastic in this respect.'. If the councils , refuse to move, or landowners refuse to sell or hiro out their land, the President of 1 the Board of Agriculture steps in, a valuer is appointed, and tho land is acquired under the terms' of the Act at its present value. Where landowners have farms on their hands they are often glad to sell 'or.hire to the county councils. But thoy do riot caro to disturb existing tenants. Indeed, the ;chief. opposition to the , Act comes 'from the large tenant farmers, who do not want their farms reduced in extent." Will tho Scheme Raise Land Values? "The possibility that the operation of the Act will cause a rise in prices of land is tho lion in the path. I recognise .tliat possibility.. I, am,.told that.the Government of ..Victoria has . suspended operations under -the-Lands' for■ Closer Settlement Act for .that-reason.-Lord'Milner's Land Settlements in the Transvaal were a fiasco, because lie: went' round' purchasing land at a fictitious prico, and the settlers could not mako. a living. The price may rise, and stand up liko a ..wall, barring further .progress. Well, we hope .'to check that'difficulty bytho hiring system "of tho, Act. We are not going to have men acquiring land to part with it at a profit. Whether the councils buy or hiro in the'first instance, ;it is hired to tho'small holder, and,. .'while iecurity of possession".'is it can never becomo private property again.' Only. 2-per cent, of the applicants havo -shown any desire for the'freehold. This is'easily understood. There is security of possession; tho rent, cannot be raised; and the small holders require all- their, capital for improvements." Crops tliat are, Crown.; ' "The small areas are required.for,.market-, gardening. Tho demand in' the North is largely for holdings of fifty acres for general agriculture-; in other parts for dairying. I expect "that tho Act will-'stimulate co-opera-tive enterprise and tho Board of Agriculture will aid any such .endeavours." Town Land at Agricultural Rents. Lord Carrington referred to provisions .of. the Act which enable Councils ' to - acquiro land in the vicinity of towns -at agricultural' rents,' and rehire ,to holders until, such'time' as .the'owner, can, prove that .it is required'for building purposes; when he is allowed to resume . possession. - ~ 1