20 MARCH 1909, Page 3

On Monday in the House of Commons the Small Holdings

Act was discussed, and it was complained on the Liberal side that the provision of holdings was too slow. Sir Edward Strachey agreed that in a few counties the Councils had not been active enough. The additional Agricultural Com- missioners would stimulate these to greater efforts, and, if necessary, special schemes would be imposed on them. In other words, he was perfectly willing to coerce County Councils merely because they are acting with caution in a very difficult matter But we may ask, if it is not right to interfere with County Councils in their educational work, why should it be right, on provocation which is so far admittedly slender, to interfere with their agricultural administration P