PEASANT PROPRIETARY 207 



present time.^ The alleged failure of this measure is 

 continually quoted in support of the statement that 

 there is no demand for land. 



The administration of the Act was placed in the 

 hands of County Councils, and no doubt the Govern- 

 ment, in doing so, intended the measure to be effective. 

 Lord Onslow, speaking at Glasgow, said : — 



"We thought that if we placed it in the power of 

 the County Councils to hire land, and to create small 

 holdings, the result would be that there would be a 

 very large number of applications and a very con- 

 siderable increase. But if you look at the return to 

 Parliament you will see that what I might call the 

 small holdings movement, through the local authorities, 

 is conspicuous by its failure. I am certainly one of 

 those who, for many years past, have been very 

 desirous of seeing an increase in the number of small 

 holdings, both in this country and in England. I do 

 not think we have gone altogether the right way about 

 it in our well-meant endeavours to increase the number 

 of our small holdings." (Speech at a meeting of the 

 Scottish Chamber of Agriculture, 26 October, 1904.) 



The County Councils — with some exceptions which 

 will be noticed — have practically ignored the duty 

 placed upon them. For the most part they have not 

 even appointed advisory committees to consider the 



^ Under this Act County Councils are enabled to purchase land, 

 divide it into small holdings not exceeding fifty acres in extent, nor 

 exceeding £so in annual value, and to sell or let such holdings to 

 suitable persons who will themselves cultivate them. The purchaser is 

 required to pay down one-fifth of the purchase money and to pay 

 the balance by half-yearly instalments (including interest and sinking 

 fund) during a term of years not exceeding fifty. The County Council 

 may, if they think fit, allow one-fourth of the purchase money to remain 

 unpaid as a perpetual rent-charge on the holding. They may, in con- 

 sideration of permanent improvements made by the owner, postpone the 

 annual payment for any time not exceeding five years. 



