26 THE RURAL PROBLEM. 



It is difficult to see how farm organisation can be carried on 

 without the residence of some men such as shepherds and carters 

 in cottages attached to the farm. But they should not be penalised 

 in any way because of such residence. They might be granted a 

 little relief by a legal provision that a month's notice should be 

 required for the termination of the tenancy of the cottage, without 

 reference to the notice required to leave employment. This would 

 tend to disorganise the farm occasionally, but it would make the 

 employer considerate with regard to notice. It is regrettable 

 that the tendency to attach cottages to farms is increasing in 

 some districts, for nothing robs the labourer of his liberty more 

 than this. 



Many landlords or their agents defend themselves from the 

 charge of not providing a sufficient number of decent cottages by 

 stating that a large number of cottages are occupied by employees 

 of public authorities, railway companies, &c. Undoubtedly this is 

 true, but the reason they have been so let was partly because 

 these tenants could offer higher rents, and if the estate owners want 

 to increase the provisions for their labourers they have the remedy 

 in their own hands. If the emj)loyees of jDublic authorities, police- 

 men, roadmen, &c., were given notice to quit the landlords would 

 probably lose a little in rent, but public authorities could build for 

 their emploj^ees, and conditions would be improved. Indeed the 

 only satisfactory solution of the rural housing problem will be 

 found in a policy of building houses by the local sanitary authorities. 

 The danger is that demands may be made for subsidisation in the 

 form of a supply of very cheap capital. If this was granted it 

 would be nothing more or less than a grant in aid of the low wages 

 paid in agriculture. The grant of a large amount of cheap capital 

 should be accompanied by provision for raising wages, for if the 

 industry cannot maintain its emjDloyees at a decent standard of 

 comfort it has failed in its social purpose. A railway company 

 does not expect the State to subsidise the housing of its employees, 

 nor should a self-respecting farmer or landlord admit in this way 

 that his management has failed. 



The demands of the wife or prospective wife of the farm-worker 

 are of great importance in regard to cottages. It is not generally 

 recognised that the migration of the brightest women from the 

 countryside has been, if possible, more disastrous than that of men. 

 Unless the general conditions of country life are good enough to 

 attract the brightest girls of the villages it will not be possible to 

 retain the brightest men as they reach marriageable age, nor can 

 a decent standard of civilisation in rural areas be secured without 

 the co-operation of intelligent and energetic women. And from 

 the point of view of national health and vigour no advance will 

 be made by inducing men to return to the land unless women of 

 equal mental and phj^sical stamina can be induced to return to 

 village homes. 



