LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
HOMECROFTING—AN APPEAL
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] - SIR,—I think it was last October that the Spectator raised the question whether a trial Homecroft could not be established somewhere under experimental conditions, to show just how . far Homeerofting could be practised.. Could not an actual Homecroft dwelling with the required garden be erected, and a manual worker who could keep accounts be installed, in order to show whether or not it was possible for him, by dint of feeding largely from the garden which he cultivated in his off time, to save enough not only to own the house eventually, but in the meanwhile to sit secure, so far as to be beyond the reach of hunger, against the day when he is struck by unem- ployment or the country is struck by war ? So fascinating did the idea of such an experiment appear that some doubting Thomases who were quite sceptical of the result indicated their willingness to invest if a fund for this purpose were started.
Now, Sir, I do not know what Providence made the Spectator drop the subject these many months. But pro- vidential it has been. For it almost seems as if, apart from the Spectator and apart from myself, the stage had been spon- taneously arranging itself for this experiment. It is now almost completely set. The right town has been found, the right land near it—almost in it—and also the right Home- crofter. All that is needed now is to seize the moment and run the matter through, if the Spectator might lend a hand and help a " Homecroft Settlement Fund " of some £2.500 to be raised for the purpose. This sum would be sufficient —if the fund were registered as a society or a company— to buy outright a field of eighteen acres and also to erect' the first experimental Homecroft. Although it would be hoped to obtain the bulk of this money in sums of £50 or over, all could help ; and in the event of registration sums of £5 and under could be grouped to save expense. In one particular at least this effort would differ from most phil- anthropic objects. Being a genuine attempt, not to " help " people but to help them to help themselves by getting on to their own feet, the money would partly, at least, be bound to come back. The subscribers could hardly possibly wholly lose their capital. Even if the experiment failed the land could be sold again, the proceeds dispersed amongst the subscribers, and the Fund brought to an end. If, on the other hand, it succeeded, it is quite conceivable that other Homecrofts like the model one would be wanted, in which case the Fund could proceed to erect them, and eventually, perhaps, cover the whole eighteen acres (which would hold some thirty-six families), and thus make the first Homecroft Settlement in England an accom- plished fact. It—the model Settlement--would then only need to be copied by every industrial centre in the country. And what this would mean for England ; what it would mean if every working-man with a growing family could produce his food, and the best sort of food, from the soil by his own hands ; what this would mean for the integrity of family life, for the production of healthy children, for the reduction of food prices, for fighting tuberculosis, for the banishment of hunger, for the redemption of Britain's wasted acres, for our national protection if our food-ships were sunk in another war ; all this I have set forth in Unemployment : A Suggested Policy,* and I shall not try to repeat it here. I will only say that it all turns on experimental efforts such as this in which I am now seeking to interest the Spectator and its readers. And if you, Sir, would care to come out and see the set stage, view the land, see our prospective first Homecrofter, examine the whole proposal, and, in the event of your being satisfied, tell your readers so and let us go forward, then, it is my full belief that you would find you had done a service not unworthy to rank beside those great national services of the past which have done so much to make the Spectator's name what it is P.ST—Since the above was written some friends have come forward and bought an-option" foi us on'the land: This was * A. and C. Black. le. net,
most unexpected and is most encouraging. Is it too much to hope now that you and your readers may take the matter up before the few weeks are over when this option expires ? For once, he literally gives tett times who gives—or rather, invests—quickly.
[We have dealt with Professor Scott's letter in our leading columns.—En. Spectator.]
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