The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-05-26

Owners OF large and medlum-Slzeo
farms have been the chief benefci-
aries, and to the small farmer the
whole system has been of little good.
"A Farmers Mutual Credit Associa-
ton" for Small Farmers.
To remedy this defect, there has
during the last Is years been much
legislation. One of the results has
been the creation of what is known
as the "Credit Agricole Mutuel,"
which in 1912 comprised 215,695
farmer members, 4,204 local banks
or associations, SO district banks
scattered throughout France, and,
with supervision over the entire sys-
tenn, a Bureau Of Supervision and
Control in the French Ministry of
Agriculture. The Credit Agricole
Mutuel is subsidized by the French
, Government, money obtained from
the bank of France being supplied
the district banks without interest,
these lending to local associations
upon suitable security.
Short-term loans and the encour-
agement of the cooperative idea
we're apparently uppermost in the
minds of the French legislators in
creating the Credit Agricole Mutuel,
though long-term loans to individual
farmers are being made at the rate
of 2 per cent interest per annum.
LEGISLATION enacted in 1908 and 1910
goes still further, authorizing long
term loans on plots of 2.41 acres or
less for the purpose of aiding in the
acquisition of small holdings. In gen.
eral, of the French rural credits leg
islation enacted during the last Is
years it may be said that, while pos
sessing many good features, INSULT
cient time has elapsed for final con-
illusions as to its ultimate effect to-
ward attaining it's avowed object.
How Irish Tenants Become Land
owners.
In Ireland intolerable conditions
growing out of the vast individual.
holdings of farm lands have led to
what is perhaps the worlds most c.
spicuous example of wholesale state
aid to encourage small holdings.
In 1881 the British Parliament
passed the Irish Land Law Act, the
provisions of which were to be car
ried out by a Land Commission. This
Commission was empowered to ad-
vance to would-be owners four-fifths
of the purchase price of the land,
giving the purchaser the right to re-
pay the loan in 40 years by equal
annual payments amounting to 4 per
cent of the principal.
In 1903 the Irish Land Act be-
came a law, its provisions calling for
the creation of an Estates Commits
sion to attend to it's administration
and appropriating $500, 100000 to
be loaned to would-be purchasers.
In addition, 100000 600 was appro-
priated to be given outright to pur-
chasers unable to pay in advance the
o%ne-fourth of the purchase price re-
quired. Under this new law loans
are repayable in 8 1-2 per cent IN
nual payments running over a period
of 60 1-2 years.
English Policy is Direct Aid
The effect of this bold legislation
has been revolutionary. From a land
of tenants and absentee landlords
Ireland in a third of a century has
been converted into a land of home
owners. About 100000 tenants have
become owners of nearly 10000 900
acres of farm lands, the government
advancing over $500, 100000 for
this purpose, and it is planned to
continue these advances until all
tenants are the owners of the land
they till.
In England and Wales, under the
Small Holdings and Allotments Act
of 1908, the final breaking up of the
huge Individual holdings and the
sale to small owners apparently is
definitely under way. This Act pro-
vides, under the supervision of the
proper authorities, that any individ-