SMALL HOLDINGS 35 



and that applications from persons who are 

 ah'eady occupied in some other way should 

 not be given a secondary place as compared 

 with those of men who propose to devote the 

 whole of their time to the cultivation of 

 their land. 



When a CouncO desires to obtain land, 

 either by purchase or hire, the committee, 

 through its officers, should make inquiries 

 from adjacent landowners as to their willing- 

 ness to sell or let, while attention should 

 also be given to any announcements of land to 

 be sold. One of the most important questions 

 in relation to either hire or purchase, is that 

 of rent. Complaints have been frequently 

 made to the effect that small holders are 

 required to pay much higher rents than 

 farmers for land of similar quality, and that 

 their prospects of success are in consequence 

 diminished. It is not essential that the 

 required land should be within the County 

 Council's administration. The Council may 

 acquire land under a scheme or not, as it 

 chooses, but in the latter event it forfeits 

 the right of claim to the repayment of a sum 

 of money representing half of any loss which 

 may be incurred, and which is irrecoverable. 

 Where it is decided to adopt a scheme, a 



