PEASANT PROPRIETARY 215 



It was found that some of the men, though very 

 suitable for the work, were not able to pay down 

 the required one-fifth of the purchase-money. To 

 meet these cases the Small Holdings Committee very 

 wisely allowed an extension of time — two or three 

 years — during which the fifth had to be paid. When 

 it was paid the purchase was completed and the land 

 legally transferred. 



The terms of repayment are based on a 4 per cent 

 rate of interest, and the instalments, to be collected 

 half-yearly, are fixed at such an amount, including 

 interest and sinking fund, as will pay back the whole 

 of the money advanced by the County Council in 

 forty years. 



Though the village of Catshill is hard by, it was 

 found that cottages on the estate were in many cases 

 necessary for the comfort of the men and their families. 

 But in the Act there are difficulties in the way of 

 providing cottages.^ But the Committee overcame 

 these difficulties, and the County Council finally 

 decided not to build themselves, but to advance three- 

 fourths of the cost of a cottage and outbuildings, 

 provided that the remaining fourth were paid by the 

 holder and that the plans were approved by the county 

 surveyor and the medical officer of health. 



The amount of the instalments, interest (4 per cent), 

 and sinking fund, is so calculated that the advances 

 for the cottages — regardless of the time they were 

 built — shall be all repaid at the same date as the 

 repayments for the land are completed. Up to the 

 present time nine cottages have been built, which, 



* By an amending Bill now before Parliament — if passed — the above 

 difficulties would be removed. Local authorities would be able, if they 

 thought fit, to advance to suitable men the whole of the purchase-money. 



