382 ABSENCE OF PETITIONS 



argued that it should be financed with national 

 funds. It is not proposed that County Councils 

 should have a free hand with such funds, but that 

 schemes should be carried out through them under 

 the auspices of a national body. 



There is, however, more than this to consider. 

 County Councillors have already as much business 

 to transact as they can well manage. To carry out 

 any small-holding scheme on an adequate scale 

 means a devotion of time and labour which cannot 

 reasonably be expected of busy men. It is, more- 

 over, a subject requiring expert knowledge. Most 

 County Councillors representing the more rural 

 districts have just sufficient knowledge to be aware 

 that they are not experts ; this makes them hesitate 

 the more to embark on any scheme of which they 

 realize the great necessity of judicious handling 

 with adequate experience. 



CONSIDERATION OF THE CASES 

 WHERE NO PETITIONS HAVE BEEN 

 PRESENTED TO COUNTY COUNCILS. 



In the return of 1895, forty-five counties are 

 returned as having received no petitions. Since 

 that date petitions have been received in three 

 other counties -viz., Westmorland, Leicester, and 

 Hunts. 



To anyone unacquainted with the real facts of 

 the case this would seem to be due to a want of 



