THE STATE AS FARMER 129 



knows will suit him, and he applies to the 

 County Council for it. An elaborate series 

 of investigations takes place, valuers are 

 brought in, and rent is fixed. But it happens 

 that people cannot choose a piece of land out 

 of their neighbour's farm — or it may be their 

 late employer's holding — without a fine, to 

 be fixed by the said valuers, for severance. 

 And so the tendency of all such efforts to get 

 a small holding is towards a bad piece at a 

 high rent, or a good piece and an extravagant 

 fine. The majority of such applications fall 

 through. The whole is quite on a par with 

 all the other inconveniences of feudalism 

 grown mouldy. In the newer and better 

 system the authorities would be continually 

 working out holdings to suit both the land 

 and its treatment and the character of the 

 applicants for it. 



One of the most important benefits 

 connected with the State ownership of land 

 is that such ownership solves the everlasting 

 problem and relieves the unending friction 

 of a tariff. We have during the last two 

 generations seen some remarkable changes in 

 the value of farm lands. The ever-shortening 



K 



