15 



fixed according' to the average requirements in each parish^ and deter- 

 mined by the amount of manual labour necessary to fully develop the 

 resources of the land in the district ; the owners of the respective 

 estates being obliged to make provision for the comfort and well-being 

 of their labourers, power being given by Act of Parliament to the 

 guardians of the parish to provide extra accommodation in such cases as 

 the owners of the respective properties are not in a position to give. 



The tenants of the farms in the parish having a choice of the 

 labourers in their employ where the cottages belong to the owners of the 

 farm which they hold. The guardians of the parish having authority 

 through Parliament to conduct the necessary machinery for the working 

 of the scheme. Such an arrangement would make provision for efficient 

 labourers being retained in the country, and not driven to the necessity 

 of emigration. Moreover, such a scheme would be preferable to that of 

 Mr. Shaw Lefevre's, where every labourer is supposed to become the 

 owner by putting him into the hands of the money-lender, and thereby 

 increasing his rent, as well as confining him to the limits of the district 

 in which he is living for employment. The comfort afforded to the 

 villagers by the necessary arrangements of allotments has been exem- 

 plified in many instances, one at Stanton St. Bernard, Wilts, belonging 

 to the Earl of Pembroke ; and perhaps by none more than in the case of 

 the Rev. F. O. Morris, the rector of Nunburnholme, in Yorkshire, where, 

 though the distribution of his glebe has been in action for twenty to 

 thirty years, does not secure, except for the Rector's life, the comforts 

 which the parish now enjoys, and to be continued would necessitate the 

 interference of Parliament. 



Moreover, might not the comforts of life to the aged and meritorious 

 labourer be extended by the guardians of the parish having power by 

 Act of Parliament to secure to them at fair rents (with a view to 

 encourage thrift in their earlier career) residences in the parish in which 

 their character has been exemplified, and thus prevent the separation of 

 man and wife in the district union workhouse. 



The rent of Wilton House Home Farm being based on the produce 

 principle, in accordance with that adopted in letting the Earl of 

 Pembroke and Montgomery^s estate. Prof. Elliot in his analysis has 

 given a full definition of the operation of the scheme, and shows how 

 fairly it was adjusted to meet the mutual interests of landlord and 

 tenant, and it warrants me in asserting my belief in the justice of its 

 action; though the adjusted rent in 1851 diminished to the extent of 

 £21 15s, Id. per cent., but nevertheless the scheme ended in 187;3 with 

 eight shillings per cent, in favour of the tenant occupier. 



