212 LAND TENURE 



On 2nd July the Council put on record the following as 

 their opinion : 



" That the measure should not be passed unless the alterations 

 recommended by the Local Taxation Committee be incorporated 

 in the Bill.* 



" And, while approving the formation of small holdings on 

 sound economic lines, this Council strongly protests against the 

 hurried manner in which a measure of such importance is being 

 forced through Parliament, without an opportunity having been 

 given to consult the agriculturists and ratepayers of the country, 

 whose interests are so vitally affected." 



The Annual Report for this year, referring to this Act, 

 said : 



" This must be considered more of a sociological experiment 

 than as a measure likely to prove of benefit to agriculturists 

 generally. Its introduction met with general sympathy from 

 landowners and farmers, but the financial proposals in the original 

 Bill were widely condemned." 



This Act was repealed, but its provisions were re-enacted 

 in the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1908, which con- 

 solidated the small holdings legislation previously on the 

 Statute Book.f 



On 4th April, 1911, the Council carried a resolution with 

 one dissentient urging such an amendment of the Small 

 Holdings Act, 1908, as would render the compulsory powers 

 inoperative except in cases of changes of ownership. 



* Page 134 ante. 

 t Page 203 ante. 



