1905.] The Northern Allotment Society. 203 



At this meeting, plans and particulars of the property were 

 submitted, together with a report upon it by the Committee. 

 If the estate was not entertained, a resolution to that effect was 

 adopted and no further action taken. If entertained, an applica- 

 tion list was opened, and any member could apply for whatever 

 quantity he required. If a sufficient quantity of land was 

 bespoken, the applicants were called together and their instruc- 

 tions taken to treat for the property, until it was either bought 

 or the negotiations were abandoned. 



It will thus be seen that a member of the Society, as such, 

 incurs no liability beyond the payment of a subscription of is. 

 per annum. For this sum he obtains information and oppor- 

 tunities, but is under no obligation to avail himself of them. 

 If, however, a group of members form themselves into a body 

 of purchasers they accept the entire responsibility for the 

 undertaking, and determine exclusively every condition relat- 

 ing to the purchase, partition, and future user of the estate 

 concerned. 



The Society has now been in existence for fifteen years, 

 and during this period it has promoted the purchase of 

 thirteen estates directly, and one indirectly, containing in all 

 1,625 acres, at a total cost of ,£176,343 15s., in addition to 

 which it has made abortive attempts to purchase a number 

 of other properties. Of these fourteen estates, seven, containing 

 619 acres in all, have been allotted amongst the purchasers, and 

 the remainder have been held as joint-stock properties, and 

 developed by and on behalf of the proprietors. 



A summary of the leading particulars of these estates, 

 together with various details relating to their subsequent growth, 

 is given on the next page. 



In the treatment of these estates it will thus be seen that the 

 Society has been the parent of a two-fold policy, due to the 

 prevalence of occupying buyers in the one case and investors in 

 the other. 



Not having exacted from its members any confession of faith, 

 the Society quickly drew into its ranks members who had no 

 particular interest in its horticultural programme, but who saw 

 in its agency a ready means of obtaining cheap land for resi- 

 dential purposes, for the investment of their money, or for the 



