236 AGRICULTURAL ORGANISATION 



Holdings Societies was presented by Mr. Christopher 

 Turner : 



The question of letting land to Co-operative Societies of Small 

 Holders has not received the attention it merits, largely owing to 

 the fact that the advantages of dealing with such societies do not 

 seem to be fully realised by the majority of County Councils. 



These advantages, from the County Council point of view, may 

 be summed up as follows : 



1. In the case of any Co-operative Society renting land from a 

 local authority, when the rent is not guaranteed by reliable 

 persons outside the Society, the members are bound to hold share 

 capital in the Society equivalent to three years' rent of the land 

 they occupy, or to pay six months' rent in advance and hold 

 share capital equal to two years' rent. The amount paid up on 

 each share is usually small, leaving a heavy uncalled liability 

 hanging over each member. The Society is managed by a 

 Committee elected by the members, and this uncalled liability is 

 the guarantee for the careful management of the Society. 



2. The selection of tenants by the Committee of a Society 

 whose members, one and all, stand to lose financially if unsatis- 

 factory tenants are admitted is bound to be conducted on careful 

 lines. No Committee of a local authority can possibly be placed 

 in so good a position to decide on the merits of prospective tenants 

 as the members of a society consisting of the applicant's neigh- 

 bours, who are working side by side with him year in and year 

 out. 



3. The focussing of the demand for land in a locality to one 

 application from a Co-operative Society is of assistance to the 

 Council in the acquisition of land. The Committee of the Society, 

 from its local knowledge, can give valuable assistance in suggest- 

 ing suitable land to be acquired. 



4. A Society is responsible to the County Council as a whole 

 for rent. If any tenant is in arrears the shortage must be made 

 good from the funds of the Society, even if a further call on the 

 share capital is necessary. The County Council is thus relieved 

 of all trouble in the collection of rent and also of the onus of 

 applying pressure to tardy individuals. 



5. The Committee of a Co-operative Society is responsible for 

 the management of the holdings, and thus relieves the County 

 Council of the work of supervision and management. 



6. The Committee of a Society has to find new tenants to 

 replace any who, from one cause or another, should give up their 

 holdings. 



7. The Co-operative Society could undoubtedly in many cases 

 provide minor equipment more cheaply than can the County 

 Council. 



8. Once having placed the small holders on the land, it is to 



