234 AGRICULTURAL ORGANISATION 



steps should be taken by the Councils to bring about the 

 organisation of co-operative societies having power to acquire 

 land and to sub-let it, and offering to provide model rules 

 for such small holdings societies, to send organisers to 

 explain how the societies should be formed, and to give 

 subsequent guidance, when needed. 



Among the would-be small holders themselves there was 

 an evident belief that action would be taken by the County 

 Councils along the lines indicated. From many parts of the 

 country applications were made for assistance in the forma- 

 tion of Co-operative Land Renting Societies for the making 

 of collective application for small holdings or allotments, 

 and 80 of such societies were formed within nine months 

 of the passing of the Act. 



Cordial support of the action thus taken was given by the 

 Small Holdings Commissioners of the Board of Agriculture 

 who, in their annual report for 1910, said : 



The provision in the Act empowering councils to let land to 

 associations formed for the purpose of creating or promoting the 

 creation of small holdings, and so constituted that the division 

 of profits amongst the members of the association is prohibited or 

 restricted, has proved one of the most satisfactory and practical 

 methods of establishing small holdings, and we are strongly of 

 opinion that Councils would be well advised to encourage such 

 associations as much as possible, provided they are properly 

 constituted and are financially sound. 



The Commissioners were further able to report that since 

 the Act came into operation, 4,135 acres had been let to 30 

 associations by 15 County Councils in England and Wales, 

 and three Councils of county boroughs, and this land had 

 been sub-let by the associations to 553 tenants. In his 

 report for 1911 the Chief Commissioner states that 4,597 

 acres had then been let by County Councils to 39 Co-opera- 

 tive Small Holdings Associations, which had sublet the land 

 to 732 of their members. 



While, however, some of the County Councils have been 

 thoroughly sympathetic, have made concessions in the cost 

 of management, and have encouraged the Land Renting 



