PEASANT REVOLTS 179 



The "Allotments Extension Act" was probably the 

 first measure passed which contained direct com- 

 pulsory clauses. The Bill was first introduced by 

 Sir Charles Dilke in 1874, but it did not pass. It 

 was again brought forward in 1875, when, after dis- 

 cussion, it was rejected. 



The present writer introduced what was practically 

 the same Bill in 1882, when it was fortunately passed 

 into law.^ This piece of legislation was small, but it 

 was important, because it gave the labourer for the 

 first time certain legal rights in the land, though only 

 to rent it. The Act provides that trustees of certain 

 charity lands, held for the benefit of the poor, should 

 off"er them in allotments to cottagers and labourers at 

 fair rents and terms. The Act grives the men a legal 

 claim on these lands. But most of the local trustees 

 were opposed to the measure ; many of them put 

 every difficulty in the way of its operation, and some 

 ignored it altogether. The Charity Commissioners 

 of the time, whose duty it was to enforce the Act, 

 showed themselves unfriendly to it, so unfriendly that 

 they sanctioned the action of the trustees, who fre- 

 quently preferred to sell the land rather than be forced 

 to let it to the labourers. 



Subsequently, however, largely by pressure, the Act 

 became more operative ; and as it was estimated that 

 no less than a quarter of a million of acres came 

 within its scope, the labourers and others were much 

 benefited by it,^ 



^ The credit for this Act is due to Mr. Howard Evans and Mr. 

 Theodore Dodd, who were ever in sympathy with the men. See also 

 the writings of a man who has done yeoman's service in the labourer's 

 cause, the present Dean of Ely. See specially "The Land and the 

 Labourers " (C. W. Stubbs). 



^ For particulars of the lukewarmness of the Charity Commissioners 



