154 PROBLEMS OF VILLAGE LIFE 



by the Agricultural Rating Act was, it is true, 

 keenly resented by a large section of the urban 

 population, but in this case it was held, rightly 

 or wrongly, that no valid claim had been made 

 out by those who claimed exemption from 

 half their rates at the expense of the general 

 community. The claims of the agricultural 

 labourer on the other hand are so unquestioned 

 and his grievances so well founded that grants- 

 in-aid in order to give him a decent cottage 

 would probably be accepted if not with general 

 enthusiasm at any rate without widespread 

 protest. 



The system adopted in Ireland combines the 

 two policies of loan and subsidy, and perhaps 

 supplies the best possible method of employing 

 national funds for the carrying out of a 

 thorough reform in rural housing. 



Money is advanced by the Land Commission 

 on generous terms 3J per cent, to cover 

 interest and the repayment of the loan in 

 68 1 years. Under this beneficent legislation 

 more than 40,000 cottages have been built 

 or are in process of being built. The loans 

 advanced for these purposes amount by this 

 time to the huge total of 7,860,939, and as 

 the rents charged are very low, ranging from 

 6d. a week in some places to 2/- in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Dublin, the interest cannot be 



