REOCCUPATION OF THE LAND 491 



evening just to gain a mere crust of bread ? Because of the absolute 

 lack of organisation by Avhich such lal^our should produce its effects, 

 the absolute lack of distribution, the absolute lack even of the very 

 idea that such things are possible. Nay, even to mention such 

 things, to say that they are possil^le, is criminal with many. 

 Madness could hardly go further."^ 



This was written a good many years ago. Now, we who 

 hold such opinions are considered to be, not criminals but 

 merely cranks ; and it is even allowed that we have good 

 ideas sometimes, if only we were more practical. But, 

 surely, nothing can be more practical than the proposal 

 here made, since the experiment has already been tried 

 in Holland and in Ireland, both under unfavourable 

 conditions, yet in both it succeeded. To produce any real 

 effect, however, it must be brought into operation on a 

 large scale, and this can only be done by the local 

 authorities, to whom all necessary powers must be given, 

 with the needful financial assistance from the Government. 



When labour-colonies of the kind here suggested have 

 been established for a few years, it is quite certain that 

 the District Councils will no longer endure the old, bad, 

 wasteful, and degrading system of the Union Workhouses, 

 but will obtain land in the vicinity of existing workhouses 

 where possible, and establish labour-colonies of the same 

 type. The effects of the new system will soon become 

 palpable to every ratepayer in the kingdom by the 

 greatly diminished rates together with the abolition of 

 paupers, wherever they have been established. Public 

 opinion Avill then be all in favour of the new system, and 

 legislation will be demanded and quickly obtained, 

 enabling any sufficient number of persons who wish to 

 form such a community by voluntary association, to have 

 the land required in any part of the country on a 

 permanent tenure and at a fair agricultural rental. 



Numerous self-supporting co-operative labour-colonies 

 being thus established all over the country, their 

 connection by tramways where required, together with 

 the arrangements they would soon make for mutual 

 assistance and exchange of products, for the common use 



1 The Story of My Heart, p. 194. 



