54 PARTY POLITICS 



The problem of creating a peasant class in 

 this country is still in its infancy. It was 

 long ago discovered, chiefly by private experi- 

 ments, that the only economic way of de- 

 velopment was in groups — e.g.y the purchase 

 and adaptation of a large farm, and dividing 

 it into small holdings for occupation. Beyond 

 this little advance has been made. The whole 

 question has, unfortunately, entered the realm 

 of party politics, but so far neither side 

 appears to have arrived at a satisfactory 

 solution. 



The first legislative effort was the Small 

 Holdings Act of 1892. In the event of a 

 local demand and a petition being made, 

 County Councils were empowered to purchase 

 land in the neighbourhood for the purpose of 

 selling to suitable applicants. No compul- 

 sory powers were given. This Act laid its 

 foundations on " occupying ownership." But, 

 as far as creating a " peasant proprietorship," 

 the measure was a dismal failure. One 

 County Council only took advantage of its 

 powers with any degree of seriousness, and 

 provided an interesting colony of twenty 

 small owners, which we propose to describe 



