i24 Changes in the Number of Small Holdings, [may, 



of larger holdings, partly by reason of the fact that small 

 holdings tend to cluster around towns, and are therefore more 

 immediately within the sphere of urban encroachment, and 

 partly because the absorption of an equal area may involve 

 numerous small holdings, or only one large holding. It is 

 clear, therefore, that the creation of a very considerable 

 number of new small holdings must be represented when the 

 balance of gains and losses in this class shows a net addition 

 in two years of 1,626. 



As the number of small holdings provided under the Act 

 in 1908 and 1909, according to the particulars furnished to the 

 Board by the local authorities, was 4,443, it seemed desirable 

 to ascertain whether the net increase in this class of holdings, 

 as shown in these returns, fully represented the results of the 

 movement known to have taken place. Special inquiries were 

 accordingly made in certain counties where the returns 

 appeared to be somewhat inconsistent, and a considerable 

 amount of detailed information was obtained. It was found, 

 as was anticipated, that in many cases the creation of small 

 holdings ia one district was accompanied by their absorption 

 in another district. This absorption was mainly for building 

 purposes, but in some cases the few acres of the small holder 

 were taken into a larger farm. The ambition and success 

 of the small holder himself was found to be the cause in some 

 instances of the disappearance of an adjoining holding, which 

 at the first opportunity he had acquired, so as to increase his 

 own occupation, while still remaining a small holder. Of 

 those provided with holdings under the Act a considerable 

 proportion had previously occupied small parcels of land 

 which, if above an acre, would have been reckoned as small 

 holdings. In fact, the replacement on the land of small 

 holders displaced by the process of absorption already referred 

 to is evidently one of the satisfactory results achieved under 

 the Act. In one county, out of 194 small holdings provided, 

 123 were taken by persons who had previously occupied land. 

 In another county, in the same year in which 59 small 

 holdings were provided under the Act, 12 small holdings, 

 comprising in the aggregate 27 acres, were consolidated into 

 one small holding. Again, near a large town it was found 

 that a number of holdings above one acre but less than 50 



