138 THE AGRICULTURAL CLUB. 



tural depression are to be checked we must get on to that basis 

 as soon as possible. 



The following were the notes circulated in connection 

 with Lord Astor's address : 



NOTE A. It is estimated that about 1,000,000 rural houses 

 are occupied by the working classes, of which possibly 60 to 

 70 per cent., i.e., 600,000 to 700,000, were occupied by persons 

 solely employed in Agriculture, and their families. 



Need Jor New Cottages. In 1913 the Land Enquiry estimated 

 that 1,200,000 rural houses were occupied by working classes, 

 and that an addition of 10 per cent, was needed to meet immediate 

 housing requirements. 



The Land Agents' Society regarded both these figures as 

 over-estimates, and considered that 60,000 new cottages would 

 be sufficient for agricultural workers. 



Taking the middle of 90,000 between these two estimates 

 and adding a further 10,000 for the increased need due to the 

 cessation of building during the war, 100,000 might be taken 

 as the present minimum requirement. 



The Ministry of Health estimated that 500,000 new cottages 

 were needed in the whole country. The population of rural 

 areas is roughly one-fifth that of the whole country, so that on 

 the basis of population the same figure of 100,000 would be 

 indicated. 



Tied Houses. One-half to one-third of agricultural labourers 

 inhabit tied houses (Land Enquiry). 



So about 200,000 to 300,000 live in tied houses, and about 

 300,000 to 400,000 live in non-tied houses. 



Possibly 75 per cent, of the tied houses are let at 35. and 

 25 per cent, at 2s. 6d. or under. This is only a rough guess. 



NOTE B. The following counties had upwards of 30 per 

 cent, of the male inhabitants engaged in Agriculture in 1911 : 



Montgomeryshire. Anglesey. 



Radnorshire. Norfolk. 



Huntingdonshire. Pembroke. 



Cambridgeshire. Dorsetshire. 



Lincolnshire. Westmorland. 



Herefordshire. Oxfordshire. 



Cardiganshire. Wiltshire. 



Suffolk. Rutlandshire. 



The proportion of the population overcrowded in the rural 

 areas of these counties ranged in 1911 from 3 per cent, to 9*3 

 per cent., and, except in the case of Huntingdon, Westmorland 

 and Rutland, was greater than the proportion overcrowded in 

 the urban areas of the same counties, which varied from 1*9 per 

 cent, to 6'2 per cent. 



