AN AGRICULTrRAT. CAREER 149 



is about the smallest economic area and, putting the 

 working capital at /^20 per acre, a minimum total of 

 ^600 would be required. 



In the " Settlement Facilities Act " power is given 

 to the County Council to advance one-half of the 

 total working capital required ; but the man who settled 

 upon a private estate could not claim this advance. 

 Further, he would probably be on an isolated holding ; 

 or, at all events, if there were other small holdings they 

 would be in the hands of old experienced agriculturists, 

 mostly men born to the profession. Most County 

 Councils now have a good instructor in agriculture, and 

 another in horticulture, and often several specialists as 

 well ; as a ratepayer the new smallholder has a right 

 to their services and he should have recourse to their 

 assistance in the cropping and cultivation of his holding ; 

 he can secure this assistance by writing to the County 

 Agent or Organizer. 



In practice, I fear very few men would be able to get 

 small farms on private estates ; but, in spite ol the 

 difficulties I have mentioned, a good small holding on a 

 private estate is let at a lower rental than one obtainable 

 in any other way. 



(2) To take a holding under a public authority ; the 

 County Councils are the main small holding authority, 

 although the Ministry of Agriculture has a certain 

 number of group settlements where some attempt is 

 being made at organized settlement.^ I have already 

 criticized the methods adopted by the County Councils, 

 and " organized settlement " is further dealt with in 

 Appendix IV. 



However these considerations are really beside the 

 point, for although by Act of Parliament the County 



' It is now proposed to hand these over to the County Councils. 



