SMALL-HOLDING OWNERSHIP 219 



the translation of an article published on 4th November 

 1 9 10 in the Danish Jyllandsposten, a high-class Con- 

 servative journal, headed " The Loans from the State 

 Cheap Money and its Abuse." This article is in 

 substance a severe attack upon the whole policy that 

 has resulted in the institution of these holdings. Says 

 the Jyllandsposten : 



" For many years we have witnessed an eager race 

 for the housemen's votes. The programme of the 

 parties made the housemen their pets, and instituted 

 a violent agitation in order to satisfy that part of the 

 population." 



Indeed, the drift of this criticism, which I reprint at 

 length in an appendix, as it is well worth study (see 

 Appendix D), is that the creation of the Danish State 

 small-holdings is little more than a corrupt political 

 move badly carried out. 



We have heard the same arguments in this country, 

 not from one side, but from both. When the Radicals 

 passed the Small-holdings Act of 1908 it was so 

 denounced. When the Conservatives propose another 

 Small-holdings Act that would substitute freehold 

 for leasehold it is so denounced. Doubtless there is 

 a spice of truth in these accusations, since all states- 

 men are greedy for the votes which place them in 

 power, and it is to be feared that not very much is 

 done in this world solely because it is right and good 

 that is by political parties. 



Still, when all deductions are made, it must be 

 acknowledged that the conscience of this nation, as of 

 others, is stirring as to the matter of its land and the 

 uses to which it can best be put ; and notwithstanding 

 the criticism of the Jyllandsposten, the same may be 

 said, perhaps with greater force, of Denmark. Some 



