598 Report of Small Holdings Committee, [jan., 



vision of small holdings by a Central Government Department ; 

 (2) the amendment of the Small Holdings Act, 1892; (3) ad- 

 vances to landowners for the equipment of small holdings ; 

 (4) agricultural education; and (5) agricultural co-operation. A 

 summary of these recommendations is given below. 



I. Recommendation for Action by Central Authority. — That in 

 addition to the machinery provided by the Small Holdings Act, 

 1892, the provision of small holdings should be assisted by the 

 direct intervention of a Central Government Department : — 



id) That with this view special Branches, for England and 

 Scotland, of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries be formed 

 to make definite experiments in the creation of small holdings. 



ib) That Parliament be invited to make an annual grant for 

 the conduct of such operations. 



ic) That in the event of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries 

 being unable to obtain by agreement land required for these 

 operations, compulsory powers should be conferred on the 

 Board. 



(^) That the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries should make 

 annually to Parliament a Return, showing the progress made in 

 the provision of small holdings by Local Authorities, the extent 

 of the difficulties or the measure of success experienced ; and 

 for this purpose the Board should have statutory power to pro- 

 cure from County Councils the necessary information on these 

 points. 



(e) That where the Board consider action is feasible they 

 should take such steps as they deem advisable to secure suit- 

 able land, to properly set out, sub-divide, and equip it, either to 

 let at an annual rent or to sell to suitable applicants, the pur- 

 chase price to be repaid by such annual instalments, including 

 interest and sinking fund, as will repay the total outlay over a 

 prolonged period of years. 



n. Recommendations for Amendment of the Small Holdings 

 Act, 1892. — {a) That the purchaser shall pay down one-eighth 

 instead of one-fifth of the purchase money. 



(b) That after payment of the first instalment of purchase 

 money the County Council shall have power to defer the pay- 

 ment of the instalments from time to time in such cases as they 

 deem advisable. 



