i22 Changes in the Number of Small Holdings, [may. 



the Act has been vigorously administered ever since it came 

 into operation, such as Norfolk, Somerset, and Cambridge, the 

 unsatisfied demand from suitable applicants still remains a 

 very large one, even after three years' hard work. In Norfolk 

 3,610 acres are still required for 316 applicants, in Somerset 

 11,588 acres for 873 applicants, and in Cambridge 6,510 acres 

 for 513 applicants. 



"The Board are bound to see not only that the reasonable 

 demands of suitable applicants are satisfied with as little delay 

 as possible, but also that the Act is administered in such a way 

 that the interests of sitting tenants are not unjustly affected. 

 If there had been any ruthless disturbance of sitting tenants it 

 would have aroused such a storm of indignation that the 

 success of the whole movement would have been jeopardised, 

 while if unsuitable men had been placed on the land it would 

 inevitably have resulted in a considerable charge being 

 thrown on the rates. If the small holdings movement is to be 

 the permanent success for which we hope, it is essential that 

 it should be carried out with the hearty co-operation of all 

 classes connected with the land, and with the minimum 

 amount of friction and hardship." 



The Report referred to above shows that considerable pro- 

 gress is being made in the provision of small holdings in 

 England and Wales, but owing to the 

 Changes in the annual transfer of a substantial area of 



Number of 1 , r • 1 



Small Holdings. land from a g nculture to other purposes 

 there is at the same time a movement 

 in the contrary direction which prevents the net increase in 

 the number of small holdings from being as great as it would 

 otherwise be. This point is discussed at some length iA the 

 Report on the Acreage and Live Stock Returns for 1910 

 (Cd. 5585. Price 5K). 



The changes which have taken place since 1890 in the 

 number of holdings exceeding one acre and not exceeding 

 50 acres are shown in Table A on the next page. 



During the two years 1908 to 1910 the net addition of hold- 

 ings of this size was 1,482 in England and 144 in Wales, 

 making a total of 1,626. This represents a striking change in 

 the tendency which these returns had previously exhibited. 



