COLONISING CROWN LANDS. 87 



by inspecting the labels at Sutton Bridge 

 station. 



Socially and economically the creation of 

 the small holdings hi this district has been a 

 distinct boon to the village of Sutton Bridge, 

 so the tradesmen inform you, and they ought 

 to be good judges. At the inn, however, which 

 caters for those who travel cushioned on 

 wheels and toil not, little liking is shown for 

 small holdings, as the following conversation 

 between myself and the landlady will illustrate. 



" You are not one of those small holdinff 

 people, are you ? " she asked me, after I had 

 ordered my supper and bed. 



" Well, yes, I am," I answered hesitatingly. 

 "Why?" 



" Because I don't like them." 



" Oh, I am sorry. Why not ? " 



" They are a mean lot. There was a party 

 of M.P.'s that motored from Spalding this 

 summer. They had been motoring for hours, 

 inspecting small holdings. A special message 

 was sent to the stationmaster to look after 

 them, and some of them, I am told, were very 

 rich. They came in here for tea, and the 

 hired chauffeurs asked me whether they were 

 to have any tea. So I asked the gentleman 



