HOMECROFTING [To The Editor of the SPECTATOR.} Sin,—The several articles
and letters regarding the above are being followed with considerable interest, and the further letter from Mr. G. W. Giles in your issue of June 12th raises two important points. It will be generally agreed that purchasers of homecrofts would be as eager as all house pur- chasers to secure freehold title, but it is of fundamental im- portance for the homecroft movement that the land and buildings shall be used in perpetuity as " homecrofts," par- ticularly as it is essential that there shall be co-operation among the crofters. It therefore appears that it is in the best interests of the crofters that the freehold title should remain vested in the National (or local) Homecroft Association, and that the leases (preferably for 999 years) should contain such covenants as to user and cultivation as will be mutually advan- tageous and which will prevent the " alienation " of the crofts from their original purpose. The main objection to leasehold title is the term of the lease—this is overcome if a long lease is granted.
Mr. Giles fears that the Public Works Loan Commissioners could not lend on leasehold property. As secretary of a large number of Public Utility Housing Societies which are operating in various parts of the country, I can assure him that no diffi- culty arises, as all the Societies with which I am connected hold their land under leases, the latter containing such cove- nants as will insure for all time that the properties will be maintained and developed as garden village estates.
Unrestricted freehold ownership has often resulted in chaos, whilst the best examples of estate development in this country are to be found on leasehold estates—the leases governing the purposes for which certain properties may be used, thus pro- tecting the general interests of all.—I am, Sir, &c.,
E. HALL WILLIAMS,
Secretary, The Welsh Town-Planning and Housing Trust, Limited, and its Affiliated Utility Housing Societies.
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