234 RURAL DENMARK 



prefer to take leases rather than to buy the freehold. 

 Thus in Norfolk up to December 14, 19 10, applica- 

 tions to the number of 2076 had been received by the 

 County Council, and 530 persons had been settled on 

 the land. Among all of these not a single small-holder 

 had expressed a desire to purchase his holding. 



As this is so, does it not appear that the new plan 

 suggested to the country is in reality "dead and 

 damned " before it is born ? If intending small-holders 

 will not buy under the existing opportunity which is 

 offered to them, which seems to be the most liberal that 

 can be offered without loss to the County Councils, why 

 should they avail themselves of any future opportunity 

 whereof, if the State is to protect itself, the conditions 

 can scarcely be made more generous ? 



For my part I can find no satisfactory answer to 

 the question. The small-holder has said that he 

 prefers leasehold, and there is an end. Indeed, only 

 one other explanation appears to be possible, namely, 

 that the matter has not been properly explained to 

 applicants for land ; that these do not clearly under- 

 stand that they can become freeholders by providing 

 one-fifth of the purchase price out of their own re- 

 sources. I am assured, however, by the Chairman of 

 the Small-holdings Committee of the Norfolk County 

 Council that this is not the case. 



These remarks, of course, do not apply to the 

 question of the purchase of farms by their tenants 

 with the aid of State-advanced moneys. The farmer 

 and the small-holder are in different positions, and 

 the former may, and as I believe often will be willing 

 to take risks and provide funds that the latter does 

 not feel himself able to face or find. 



To sum up it would appear in the light of these 



