PROPOSAI,S FOR tAND REFORM 121 



On the necessity for increasing the supply of cottages, the pamphlet 

 states, most people are substantially agreed, but it considers the calcula- 

 tion that 120,000 cottages are required in rural district as an over-estimate. 

 Assuming that one-sixth of the new cottages are required to replace cottages 

 which are at present occupied though really unfit for habitation, and allow- 

 ing the normal family to be five in number, the pamphlet points out that 

 the additional supply would be sufficient for 500 ,000 persons and adds that 

 it is difficult to suppose that any change in agricultural methods or tenures 

 mil thus increase the agricultural population. In reference to the subject 

 of tied cottages, the pamphlet points out that the Enquiry Committee omit- 

 ted to notice that the existence of tied cottages facihtates labourers in ob- 

 taining fresh employment, since, if a man goes to a new job he goes from one 

 tied cottage to another. 



The pohcy of fixing a minimum wage is criticised on the ground that 

 farmers, wherever it was possible to do so, would cease to employ their men 

 continuously and would only employ them as and when their services were 

 required. They would, moreover, ruthlessly weed out the less vigorous 

 workers, giving them only casual employment or piece-work. Or, again, 

 the farmer would stiU further reduce the arable area. " Under a system 

 of artificially high wages, " says the pamphlet, " agriculture will tend to 

 revert to the two crops and fallow of a century ago. " 



While admitting that more produce might be obtained from the soil, the 

 pamphlet expresses a different \'iew as to the causes of the present under-cul- 

 tivation. It contends that the existing condition of agriculture is due part- 

 ly to its slow recovery from the tremendous loss of capital which landlords 

 and tenants suffered in the crises of 1876-84 and 1891-99 ; partly to the con- 

 tinual pressure of foreign competition and the prevalence of low prices; 

 partly to the increasing burdens laid upon land both by Imperial and by 

 local taxation. 



The pamphlet urges that the difference between good and bad cultiva- 

 tion depends more largely on differences in the character of the cultiva- 

 tors than on a greater or less degree of security of tenure. The follow- 

 ing illustration is given of the way in which the character of a farmer affects 

 the yield of produce : " A man with little capital, or Httle enterprise, cannot 

 afford, or is indisposed, to take risks. He aims at a yield of 3 ^ quarters 

 to the acre, instead of 5 quarters and regulates his expense accordingly. 

 He is not likely to get a smaller yield, and may get more. The high farmer 

 with capital and enterprise aims at 5 quarters, and in a bad season gets 

 3 ^4- Probably, on the average, the enterprising man does not make more 

 than his less ambitious neighbour. But the produce per acre is, of course, 

 greater. " 



The insecurity of the tenant farmti has, according to the pamphlet, 

 been greatly exaggerated in the Report. With some slight amendments the 

 ordinary security of the tenant would be practically complete. The need 

 for special treatment in cases in which a farm is offered for sale is, however, 

 admitted. It is also contended that the damage done by game is exagger- 



