A National Policy. 85 



in farming- at present. There are two main lines along 

 which the occupation of land may develop and we may 

 consider how the community will tend to proceed, whether 

 by way of large units, or by the creation of small holdings. 



I have already indicated that I do not see any future for 

 small holdings under our present system of land tenure 

 and under present conditions of agriculture. It may be 

 contended, however, that the problem is essentially different 

 if the land is under the control of the community and that 

 the state may find it better to encourage small holdings. 

 Those who hold this view are generally prepared to admit 

 that any substantial increase of small holdings depends 

 on the extent of co-operation amongst the small holders, 

 both in the provision of credit and in buying and selling. 

 So far the results of the propaganda of co-operation 

 amongst farmers and small holders in this country have 

 not been very encouraging and compared to what has been 

 effected in other countries, the progress made has been 

 disappointing. 



The most outstanding successes in co-operation are to 

 be found in Denmark and Ireland and there are features 

 common to both countries which are not present in Britain, 

 Both Denmark and Ireland are countries without such 

 minerals as enable them to engage in manufactures on 

 any effective scale. They are dependent on agriculture 

 and must concentrate upon it. They are both countries 

 producing milk products, eggs, and bacon for export. The 

 home market in both countries is of less importance. It 

 is necessary to bulk the products, and to standardise them 

 if trade is to be done. This makes co-operation not merely 



