SMALL AND LARGE HOLDINGS 113 



from 100 to 300 acres will probably be reduced, to make 

 way for an increase in small holdings and in large farms . 



From the national point of view the smallholder is 

 important because he gives solidarity to the agricultural 

 population — we require a larger number of people with a 

 direct interest in the land ; and in these days of labour 

 trouble, the smallhc^lder and his family are generally self- 

 contained and can dispense with outside hired labour. 



The definition of a small holding is " a farm of 50 acres 

 or under, or whose rental does not exceed ^50 a year." 



When small holdings are talked about, people generally 

 think of the small holdings created by the County 

 Councils under the Act of 1908. Little is heard of the 

 great number of old-established small holdings, that have 

 battled with adverse circumstances for many generations. 

 It is typical of a land-ignorant people like ourselves to 

 pass over, and leave unassisted, a great existing class 

 of agriculturists ; and to spend large sums of money 

 in placing a few new men on the land, under a system 

 and under conditions which are far from satisfactory. 



How many people realize that of the half million farmers 

 in the United Kingdom no less than 230,000 are small- 

 holders ? How many realize that from 1908 to 19 14 the 

 combined effort of all the County Councils in England 

 resulted in the placing of only 16,000 people upon the 

 land ? We must remember that of these 16,000 only some 

 1500 were placed on newly equipped small farms. 

 The shortage of houses in the country' was an ever- 

 increasing evil ; yet this Small Holdings Act only brought 

 about the erection of 1500 new houses and buildings ! 



But the legislation was passed, and the stupid people 

 who had been fussing about giving access to the land to 

 the vast numbers who were supposed to be clamouring 

 for it were satisfied. The Small I loldings Act slu^uld have 



a 



