94 Large and Small Holdings 



f 



year 1880 marks the beginning of a revival of small holdings. To 

 this revival two tendencies contributed ; first, the economic interests 

 of individual agriculturists; secondly, a movement of social reformers. 

 The second is of least importance, and may be dismissed in a few 

 words. 



Social reformers had never ceased to take a lively interest in this 

 matter. It had never been possible to defend the large farm system 

 on social grounds, though Arthur Young and Sir John Sinclair had 

 attempted to counter the attacks of its opponents. But from 

 Dr Price up to the Labourers' Friend Society's agitation for allot- 

 ments, and from John Stuart Mill on to the present day, the small 

 holding has always found enthusiastic champions in view of its social 

 advantages. With the changed conditions after 1880 came the 

 Radical agitation in favour of such holdings, led by Mr Joseph 

 Chamberlain and Mr Jesse Collings. A Select Committee was 

 appointed to consider the matter in 1889, and Mr Collings expressly 

 claimed that it should regard in the first place the social rather than 

 the economic side of the question 1 . The particular aim in view, more 

 especially among the Liberals, was to hinder the increasing migration 

 of the rural population to the towns, a point which will be considered 

 below. 



The results achieved by this social movement were, first, that 

 certain landlords let their land in small farms expressly because 

 such holdings were socially beneficial. Lord Tollemache and Lord 

 Wantage were pioneers in so doing, and a little later Lord Carrington, 

 whose Willow Tree Farm was let to a syndicate of small holders. 

 In the second place the formation of syndicates and co-operative 

 associations for renting land and letting it out in small holdings and 

 allotments is to be noted. The Land Reformers of this period, 

 too, agitated in favour of small holdings and contributed to their 

 formation. 



In the third place the State took action in favour of a revival of 



cerned, the question of small farms occupied but a small part of their interest. It was, 

 indeed, a topic which was but seldom heard, still less frequently discussed, in any way 

 approaching to that in which a question is considered to which the term ' popular ' is 

 attached." And p. 13: "Of late, and it would be more correct to say very recently, the 

 subject has been again revived, and its points discussed by those who, having more influence 

 than those concerned in the old controversies, are likely to impart their views to the public 

 in a more telling way than has yet been done." 



1 Small Holdings Report, 1889, qu. 134, and 135 : " I think the social question, as 

 distinct from the economic one, is a question primarily worthy the consideration of this 

 Committee and Parliament." 



