ENGLAND'S SMALL FARMS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19787, 27 November 1929, Page 13

ENGLAND'S SMALL FARMS.

ECONOMIC RESULTS. In public addresses and newspaper articles it is often pointed out that the farm land of Britain is not owned or even rented to any great extent t.V "small men," as compared with sonic continental countries, where the principle of "peasant proprietorship" is more general. The results of postwar Government efforts to establish settlements of "small holders" on the land, are not encouraging to the idea that an extension of the movement for providing farms of small acreage (family farms) is likely to be an all-round success in. Britain. Under the scheme that has been in operation for some years a small-holding is defined as a farm of not more than 30 acres, or —if more extensive—not exceeding £BO in yearly rental value. While the reut of farms of 100 acres or more averages about 30s un acre, the small-holder is commonly required to pay 40s or more per acre. British Farms 200 Acres. The typical English farm is one of 150-200 acres. But official statistics show that of the nearly 420,000 separate holdings into which the 26 million farming acres of England and Wales are divided, some 270,000, of more than half the number, are less than 50 acres each. This, however, is far from saying that more than half the land of the country is in small farms of 50 acres or less. One-fifth or one-sixth of the total agricultural area would be more nearly correct. A big proportion of the small farms are below 20 acres, and their management is only a "parttime" business of the occupiers. In a country so disproportionately industrial as Britain, small holdings have a recognised value in helping to maintain the continually diminishing rural population. To some extent, too, they provide a means by which thrifty and industrious workers can ultimately progress to larger farms.

The economic advantage of the small farms is often brought into question, since a larger number of workers per 100-acres is employed on small holdings than on largo. But if the most suitable lines of production are followed, the heavier labour costs are frequently justified by the increased output from more intensive cultivation. Small holdings arranged in "colony groups," tend to develop co-opera-tion among the members; otherwise the scope for economic organisation of horsa labour and machinery is much less than on farms of bigger size. Costs of production undoubtedly tend to be greater with the smaller farmer if he estimates his labour at market value. Incidentally, the Economics Department of one of the colleges has lately stated that the most economic agricultural production in this country is on the group of farms which ranges from 100 to- 150 acres—a very popular size.

Demand for Small Holdings. There is a very general and constant demand for smallholdings in Great Britain, which, many years ago, came to be regarded as the duty of the State to satisfy. So far back as 1908 an Act | was passed, delegating to County Coun- '■. cils power to acquire land with public funds, to let as small farms. In this way, between 1908 and 1914, some 13,000 men were sjttled on the land as small holders. Most of these are now reported to be in a satisfactory position. Further responsibilities were taken by the Government to meet the post-war demand for land from ex-service men. Acting as Government agents, County Councils bought land iu all parts of the country, and in the period 1919-21, over 23,000 ex-soldiers were provided with small farms held in tenancy. The inflated value of the land at the time of purchase was fatal to the economic success of the scheme. In England the purchase price of farm land is usually considered to be about 22* times its net yearly rental value (net rental being obtained by deducting landlord's expenses of management, repairs, etc., from the gross rent). But theory and practice are widely different things in the land market when public authorities are known to be buying. Over two million acres were bought for the Government in 1919-20, and for the bulk of it the price paid was nearer 40 years net rental value than the 22$ years usually approved. In addition, there were big costs of subdivision, and the provision of extra buildings, so that when the slump in agricultural values occurred, economic difficulties were soon apparent. All the holdings were let out in tenancy, and the matter of rent presented a chief difficulty. It soon became clear that the figure first fixed could not be paid if the- tenants were to make a living, so this had to be reduced, though results. The general outcome is not helpful for those who are inclined to advocate nationalisation of the land and State management of the farming industry. In 1927 the Government passed another Small-Holdings Act, which makes provision for freehold ownership, as well as tenancies of holdings. Its application, too, is not to bo limited to ex-servicemen. Lack of faith in the j self-supporting possibilities of the ! scheme is indicated, however, by the fact that the Minister for Agriculture Is authorised to make a contribution, up to 75 per cent, of any financial losses which may be incurred by local authorities in providing small-holdings. It is agreed that the poli<-y of settling men on the land is one of national importance, but it is unfortunate that the provision of small holdings cannot be put on a business footing without help from public funds. Down to the beginning of the present century emigration to one of the Dominions was the popular means by which the would-be farmer who needed land, and could not get it at home, satisfied his desires. But whether it is that the spirit of enterprise has declined, or because the conditions of unemployment in Britain have been made less uncomfortable than formerly, it is obvious that the average Englishman or Scotsman of to-day needs much more encouragement to induce him to try his fortune overseas than would have been required by Ms grandfather or father. A factor in th<? matter is that to-day thf.Te is very little unemployment in the class of agricultural worker?, which formerly furnished a big proportion of emigrants that were always welcome _in the Dominions hs the result of declining numbers. The present supply of "farm labourers" in Britain is scarcely equal to the demand.