864 



State Assistance in Switzerland. [feb., 



dwellings is made to apply to gardens and fields not exceed- 

 ing 2J acres, provided the purchase price does not exceed 

 £48. In addition, the State is authorised to make loans at 

 the rate of 2 per cent, to District Land Credit Societies which 

 lend money for this purpose, and to the Cheap Dwellings 

 Societies formed under the previous Act. These District 

 Land Credit Societies must be limited companies with a 

 minimum capital of ^8,000, and must not pay more than 

 4 per cent, interest to their shareholders. The total amount 

 of the State loan is fixed at ,£4,000,000. Persons borrowing 

 money from the Societies above-mentioned must (1) possess 

 one-fifth of the price of the land or the house ; (2) take out an 

 insurance policy with the "Caisse Nationale d' Assurance " to 

 cover the payment of the balance of the loan in the event of 

 death, the premium for this policy being incorporated with 

 the loan ; and (3) obtain certain certificates from the adminis- 

 trative authority showing that the requirements of the law 

 have been fulfilled. The borrower must undertake to cultivate 

 the land himself or by his family. The price paid for land 

 acquired under the 1908 law must not exceed ^"48. There 

 are certain provisions in the Act of 1906 which enable proper- 

 ties of this kind to be maintained intact for a number of years 

 instead of being divided among the heirs on the death of the 

 owner, and for enabling any one of these heirs to acquire it, 

 thus avoiding its sale to a stranger. 



The agricultural crisis which has been felt throughout 

 manufacturing countries during recent years has had its effect 

 on the Swiss agricultural population. 

 State Assistance The result of the increased wages in 

 to Agriculture in town industries has tended to reduce the 

 Switzerland. number of farm labourers or servants, 

 among whom, more especially the 

 women, there is a tendency to gravitate towards the towns. 



Sir G. F. Bonham, H.M. Minister at Berne, in referring 

 to this fact, states that the duty of the Central Government to 

 do what it can to satisfy the wants of the agricultural popu- 

 lation is fully recognised. It is felt that with the large 

 foreign element and its situation as a neutral State on the 

 road of international communication, Switzerland more espe- 



