156 THE LAND AND ITS PROBLEMS 



development of this movement, all new smallholders 

 should as far as possible be settled in groups. 



(6) Although the majority of our English tenants are 

 in favour of the yearly lease, there is no doubt that the 

 system of long leases could be extended with beneficial 

 results ; this system is common in Scotland. 



(7) Although co-partnership farming and its close 

 relation co-operative farming have not proved successful 

 in this country, these forms of holding land should 

 receive attention ; and it may be found that, with certain 

 modifications, it is a system well worth considering. 



(8) A further variation of the commercial farm is the 

 experiment now being made by one or two landowners 

 of turning their estates into a limited company, and the 

 tenants into shareholders and members of the board of 

 directors ; this is mentioned here simply because it is 

 a new departure — in a few cases it might be successful, 

 but it would be difficult to find tenant farmers who would 

 agree to such an arrangement. 



(9) We want to bring in new blood to the agricultural 

 industry, and every encouragement to come in should 

 be given to those outside the present agricultural circle : 

 (a) to business men with capital who would go into partner- 

 ship with a highly trained manager — the partnership 

 system of farming already referred to — and (b) to men with 

 little capital who would take up small holdings at home if 

 obtainable, or settle overseas. 



(10) If the developments suggested in this chapter, 

 both in regard to administration and tenure, are effected 

 it means that certain sections of the present holders of 

 land will be gradually squeezed out ; the indifferent 

 farmer will have to go — also the under-capitalized 

 farmer. 



Some will undoubtedly suffer hardship in the process ; 



