ILLUSTRATION  OF  SMALL  HOLDING  SCHEME  149
which  will  evoke  the  application  of  the  best  energy  of
the  occupiers,  with  ability  to  co-operate  so  far  as  to
keep  down  certain  expenses  of  production,  of  transport,
and  of  sale,  it  seems  quite  possible  that  a  greatly  increased
employment  upon  the  land  might  be  profitably  found.
It  does  not  seem  likely  that  those  who  are  displaced
from  employment  in  the  towns,  or  other  town-bred  persons,
army  pensioners,  or  the  rank  and  file  of  the  unemployed
can  be  thus  entrusted  with  the  use  of  land  and  capital
upon  this  business  footing  with  any  chance  of  success.
But  small  farmers,  picked  agricultural  labourers,  country
mechanics  and  others  might  succeed,  provided  they  had
security  of  their  holdings  upon  reasonable  terms  and  were
possessed  of  sufficient  capital,  intelligence,  and  willingness
to  combine  for  certain  common  ends.
§  ij.  An  Illustration  of  Small  Holding  Scheme.
The  following  scheme  of  small  farm  settlements  upon
corporate  tenancy,  drafted  by  Mr.  Mather,  may  be  taken
as  illustrative  of  this  line  of  progress  :
“  Every  County  Council  should  receive  applications  from
those  who  seek  to  obtain  a  permanent  living  from  the
land.  Landowners  should  be  asked  to  send  to  the  County
Council  particulars  of  any  available  farms  which  may  be
suitable  for  the  purpose.  On  the  general  suitability  of
any  farm  being  approved,  the  Council  should  convene  a
meeting  of  the  applicants  ;  and  if  the  farm  be  accepted
at  such  a  meeting  by  a  sufficient  number  to  take  up  the
entire  area,  the  Council  should  appoint  provisional  Trustees
or  managers  to  act  for  the  applicants.  These  Trustees
should  then  arrange  terms  with  the  owner  of  the  land,
and  settle  its  allotment  and  the  buildings  suitable  for  the