2 



Creation of Small Holdings. [april, 



indicate how far it is possible by introducing improved methods 

 to modify the so-called natural conditions. 



Where small holdings already exist there are, of course, 

 plenty of data to guide future endeavours, and considerable 

 activity is being shown in making full use of the powers 

 conferred by the new Act. I need only instance the Worcester- 

 shire and Lincolnshire County Councils, which are fortunate in 

 possessing local pioneers who have already laid the foundations 

 for a successful working of the Act. In these places, therefore, 

 the problem is not that of determining what type of holding to 

 establish : the principal questions are whether a further supply 

 of suitable men exists amongst the applicants, and whether a 

 market can be found for the disposal of further produce. 



As regards the first point, small holdings breed small 

 holders and a large percentage of applicants are sure to be 

 desirable. 



As regards the question of markets, care will be required to 

 ensure that the increase of supply from small holdings does not 

 damage existing workers. It might be supposed that conditions 

 would adjust themselves throughout the country and that 

 accordingly any additional output would be absorbed without 

 difficulty ; but experience shows that the market for the pro- 

 duce of small holdings is often glutted locally, and one not in- 

 frequently hears complaints, even from existing small holders, 

 that, for these reasons, it is not possible to obtain the prices 

 which ruled some years ago. 



My conclusion is that any county council which contemplates 

 encouraging the extension of existing holdings would do well 

 to consider seriously this question of markets. Supposing 

 that the prospect is unsatisfactory, it should put to itself three 

 questions : — 



(i) Can the difficulty be met by reformed co-operative 

 methods of distribution and marketing ? 



(ii) Can the small holders trek out further afield, so as to 

 come within a manageable radius of a new market. 



(iii) As a further alternative, can the new holdings be con- 

 cerned with a different form of produce from the old ? 



I now turn to the case of localities where small holdings are a 

 new and untried experiment, or where they exist solely as minor 

 appendages to other occupations, sparsely scattered among 



