showing an increase from 1895 to 1924 of 4,700. In fact, there 
iS no very marked change in the number of holdings from 20 to 
300 acres during the 30 years, but there is a decline in the holdings 
of over 300 acres, which is of importance because the area lost 
from this group does not appear to be compensated for by in- 
creases in the other groups. Part of the loss in this group may, 
however, be due to the transfer of grass land to the category of 
rough grazings. 
The decline in the total number of holdings from 1 to 50 acres 
as shown by the Ministry’s figures is regarded in some quarters 
as evidence of the failure of the small holdings movement. For 
reasons given earlier in this chapter the figures do not necessarily 
bear this interpretation. In the first place, holdings between 
20 and 50 acres have increased, and it can be assumed that all 
but a small proportion of the holdings in this group are real small 
holdings—that is to say, holdings from which the occupier derives 
8 very substantial part, if not the whole, of his living. In the 
second place, as has already been stated, it is doubtful whether 
the reduction in the number of holdings from 1 to 20 acres is 
really representative of actual fact, in view of the extensive 
changes in the occupation of agricultural land and the very 
considerable number of new small holdings created in recent 
years. Moreover, seeing that a considerable proportion of the 
holdings of 1 to 20 acres returned to the Ministry (45,000, according 
to Crop Reporters’ estimates in 1925) are only partially or inci- 
dentally used for agriculture, it is quite impossible to estimate 
how far, if at all, the decline in the total numbers of holdings 
in the two smallest groups is due to a decrease in real small 
holdings. There are indications that in the last twenty years 
the reduction in the number of holdings only partially or inci- 
dentally used for agriculture has been very considerable. 
The foregoing considerations are probably sufficient to show 
that the Ministry’s figures of holdings between 1 acre and 50 acres 
cannot be regarded as evidence of a decrease in the number of 
real small holdings, though at the same time they do not afford 
any positive proof of the increase which, it is claimed, has actually 
taken place. The Population Census figures, however, given in 
Chapter VIII are suggestive. They show that between 1911 and 
1921 the number of farmers, &ec., working on their own account 
or as employees increased by nearly 42,000. This increase must 
presumably be due to an increase in the number of persons 
describing themselves as small holders and may be accepted as 
indicative of the general trend, though there is some reason to 
suppose that it exaggerates the real facts of the case. 
The proportion of holdings of the different sizes and the 
proportion of the total area in each group is shown in the 
following Table :—