SMALL HOLDINGS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 108, 30 January 1908, Page 5

SMALL HOLDINGS.

MANY APPLICATIONS.

the land hunger at home, ot . tbi,Earn rn—roEsa issocutiok—coptEiairr^ London, January 28. Earl Carrington, President -of tho .Board of Agriculture, speaking ■*t the' National Liberal .Club, , stated that in three weeks 3000 porsons had applied for 83 square miles undor the Small Holdings Act.

WHAT THE ACT DOES. £ho Small Holdings Act, one of tlie principal passed by the Liberal Government last* session, carno into force■ last New ■lear s .Day.. Statutory powers , to; subdivide ancl create small holdings have existed for somo time, but,'generally speaking, they wore ot a character, tho'. powers to be T.W. 11 ' not at the will of local'authorities, which did not act. There was a call for some other -authority to stiffen tlie backs of tho local bodies, nnd i this is what the new Act endeavours to, provide, by the creation of small holdings commissioners'. The -.commissioners must, bo persons "possessed of a knowledge of agriculture," and are to bo appointed by the • °m l< ' 1 ABviciiUuro, and paid by tho State. 1119 commissioner's, duty is to ascertain the extent-to which tlioro is .a demand'for. small holdings in.each county,:"or would bo a demand if suitable land were available." The county council is required to civo them-reason-able assistance. In return, tho .commissioners 'communicate .to tho council for information " n , s to tho existenco of a-demand." : When the Board is of opinion- after considering its commissioners', "representations," •that'"a schema should be made- in a particular county,' it forwards them,-with such modifications or observations' as it thinks fit, to the council. It will then be the council's duty to proparc one or more draft schemes.' Tt must havo regard in doing so to the proposals of the commissioners, "subject to sucli modifications as 'ho Board may make"., after considering any representations the council: may address to' it. If the council declines to undertake.tho duty, or does not' within flix months, or such timo as may'be allowed by.; tlie , Board, prepare a sohemo, (he Board, may direct the 'commissioners tQ do bo. •' A council may,, of course, prepare a schemo on its own account without waiting for tho commissioners. Bofore any scheme under tho Act is carried out—all • schemes must be submitted to'tho Board—the terms •will;he advor•tiscd, and if there are objections by tho council, a local inquiry will bo held, at whiclv tho council ivill be represented: When a Council will not carry out a schemo tho commissioners, have tho powers .of n council to do bo, and their expenses tire rccoyorablo from the council by the Crown,,. . If the carrying out of a f.chwne rcsultn, or is likely to; result, in'a loss, the Board, vrith the consent of the Treasury, may bear tho. whole or part of the loss. ". »■ : ' • ■ An allotment is defined as any quantity of land up to five ! ac.res in the possession of one person. A small holding is defined as. a piece of land not exceeding 50 ax-res, ; or ; if. it does exceed' 50 acres—as when, common or rough land is/added for grazing—not exceeding ,£SO

in value, income tax assessment. • Powers are' given to county' and parisU councils to acquire land compnlsorily,, by. lease or. purchase, when.' it is not availablofby agreement or' on reasonable, terms." Certain lands are 'exempt from > compulsory purchase, notably iand required for the amenity' or convenience of a house, also the property of corporations, or public o,r quasi-public undertakings like railways. . .