THE RURAL PROBLEM 69 



reason, and one which the small holder is rather liable to 

 forget. During the worst period of agricultural depression 

 the man who was hit the hardest was the farmer who had 

 borrowed money to buy his farm, because he had the fixed 

 interest to pay all the time ; whereas the tenant farmer could 

 at least bring pressure to bear on his landlord to reduce the 

 rent. 



Of course, those who want ownership can get it. The 

 Ownership Act of 1892 was a complete failure. The Act of 

 1907 — now re-enacted by the Allotments and Small Holdings 

 Act of 1908 — has been, relatively, at any rate, a success. 

 But although purchase is possible as before, only 1 J per cent, 

 in England and Wales and in England alone only just over 

 1 per cent, of the applicants desire to purchase their holdings. 



In this case, therefore, the course which Socialists believe 

 to be theoretically correct is also that which is desired by the 

 persons concerned, not one of whom is in the least influenced 

 by the theory of the matter. 



