OPENINGS FOR CO-OPERATION 301 



From the basis of organization here represented, it 

 would be but a short step for the little community to 

 form themselves into co-operative societies with a view 

 to obtaining all the advantages that combined action in 

 regard to production, transport, and sale are calculated 

 to secure. Altogether, therefore, and subject to certain 

 matters of detail which have not been definitely settled 

 as these lines are being written, the scheme of the 

 Evesham syndicate is one that well deserves to be 

 watched with a good deal of interest, as affording a 

 possible solution of some of the greatest problems now 

 met in the further increase of small holdings. 



The natural objection to such procedure as this on 

 the part of private enterprise is that where a scheme of 

 the kind described is operated on commercial lines, the 

 tenants run the risk of being unduly exploited in the 

 interest of dividends or profits. To this the obvious 

 reply is that the adoption of any such policy would 

 inevitably lead to the collapse of the enterprise. If the 

 rents were excessive or the restrictions unreasonable, 

 the tenants would leave. But, in point of fact, the 

 syndicate should be able to let allotments or small 

 holdings at lower rents than either an individual land- 

 owner or a local authority could accept, and, under its 

 system of management, it would still secure a reasonable 

 return on its invested capital. Such a return, too, is 

 certainly desirable, if only for the purpose of encourag- 

 ing others to start elsewhere on similar lines, and save 

 local authorities from any need or excuse for further 

 adventures into the region of municipal landlordism. 



