OWNERSHIP AND TENANCY. 125 



belief that the small holder's place in the reconstruction 

 problem was of first importance. The following are the 

 salient points of the paper : 



Given sufficient capital, my own opinion is that the small 

 holder stands high as a food producer. He enjoys a life which 

 is the envy of every labourer, and I know from intimate know- 

 ledge of many hundreds of them that they reap a genuine measure 

 of success, and not only enjoy their independence, but take a 

 real interest in the full use and highest productivity of their 

 holdings, and in many cases that I know the land they cultivate 

 is producing far more than it did before they were installed. 



I readily admit that much has to be done to improve Agriculture, 

 and small holdings cultivation. Far too often the men placed 

 on the holdings, and sometimes by the county councils, are 

 handicapped by excessive rents. 



The small man ought to have his land on as favourable terms 

 as the large farmer. Of course, he must be ready, and he is 

 ready, to pay the extra cost of the inevitable equipping the smaller 

 farm. 



The State should do more to educate and encourage co- 

 operation among the small cultivators. One has to remember 

 that the very men who make successful small holders are 

 temperamentally up against co-operation ; but I believe they 

 are ready for advance in this direction, for they are beginning to 

 realise its value. County councils might establish colonies of 

 small holdings, and place one man of ability and character on 

 each colony. Upon one such person the success of co-operation 

 depends, and he might be the county council representative, and 

 carry out experimental and demonstration cultivation among the 

 other holders. Not an official to boss it over the others, but a 

 man working a holding, and demonstrating to others how it can 

 be done, and remember good cultivators are keen imitators. 



Say for example a Danish practical cultivator might have a 

 holding and live on it, and cultivate on the best Danish small 

 cultivator principles, showing others how to do it, and giving 

 advice to any willing to receive it. That is better than pamphlets 

 and lecturers, and would benefit a whole colony of small holders. 



Money on easy terms also should be available for the small 

 cultivator. 



The social problem among small holders will, I believe, largely 

 solve itself. A contented flourishing population in the rural 

 areas will soon create a social atmosphere suited to its own 

 needs. 



If evidence were needed to prove that small holdings tend 

 to stop the drift from the country-side, I would call attention 



