182 PROBLEMS OF VILLAGE LIFE 



houses on vacant farms suitable for small 

 holdings. In the absence of such houses 

 applicants cannot utilize land at any con- 

 siderable distance from the villages where 

 they already live. 



Apart from the question of the adminis- 

 trative machinery for the creation of holdings 

 there exists a fundamental controversy as to 

 the conditions of tenure best suited to these 

 farmers : are they to hold the land as freehold 

 owners or as tenants of a public authority ? 

 This clear issue has unfortunately been 

 obscured to a large extent by considera- 

 tions of political partizanship. Ownership of 

 property in general and land in particular has 

 always been regarded as a valuable asset by 

 the Conservative party, whose supporters 

 have not hesitated to express their confident 

 belief that a vast increase in the number of 

 " peasant proprietors " would provide a stout 

 bulwark against the assaults of " revolu- 

 tionary " movements. " A war of classes 

 is being proclaimed," says Sir Gilbert Parker, 

 a vigorous advocate of ownership ; " a crusade 

 against property ... is being preached ; 

 people's minds are being turned from effort 

 to revenge to Socialism." This dangerous 

 tendency is to be countered by the establish- 

 ment of numerous small owners, jealous 



