THE HOMECROFT SCHEME [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
SIR,--A smiling piece of land, a beautiful, flat, loamy, gravelly piece of fruit-bearing soil, " of the best in Gloucestershire," lies on the left side of the road as you walk out of Cheltenham in the direction of Tewkesbury. This little ten-acre estate belongs to the Spectator subscribers to the Homecroft Scheme— those who offered money for investment—now duly consti- tuted and registered as a Public Utility Society, the National Homecroft Association, Limited. Of the original promises of money, either for Shares or as Free Gifts, all but a very few have now been called up. The shareholders are the Associa- tion. They regard themselves as entrusted with the Free Gifts which have been made. Except for the purely prelimin- ary expenses connected with the Cheltenham campaign, they have only had to use those gifts, so far, for general educational and propaganda purposes. And if only the Association had an income, to cover its trifling running expenses, the Free Gift Fund could be kept for those purposes as long as it lasted.
The Association has a capital, at the moment, of 999 fully- paid shares of £1 each. They hold this piece of land in fee- simple. They are about to lease it to the daughter-Association, at Cheltenham, who is willing to take their land at a given rental, endeavour to raise the capital for the houses, run the demonstration they wanted to see given, and do it on the exact lines they had in view. I would like all shareholders in the National Association, and all who have in any way taken an interest in its work, to realize this aspect of the situation. Only those in the closest touch know the full wonder of the manner in which the leaders of the Cheltenham movement have entered into the National Association's spirit. They have truly made a Cheltenham enterprise out of the National Association's purposes. That is exactly the result that our movement was organized to bring about ; central guidance combined with local enthusiasm and autonomy.
The enthusiasm is deep and genuine. Difficulties there have been. But a building plan has been prepared, experts who are convinced by the soundness of the scheme and its exalted aims have given of their unstinted best, the Ministry of Health have been communicated with, the local Authority are with us. Space fails me to tell of the sanitation system modelled on the principles of the late Dr. Vivian Poore, Best of all, the Homecrofters are beginning to gather about the gates. All gratitude to the Cheltenham Association, and our profound salute. Their crisis is just coming. Will they also, as we did, get their shareholders ? There is a catch in the breath as one writes the question. For if they do, then this " first running model of a Homecroft Settlement in En ;land," to which so many have looked forward as ardently, is a practical certainty. What is to me more wonderful, it will be no mere attempt or apprcecimation, but a genuine model, faithful to the idea in every line and lineament.
The British Homecrofting movement has so far run along the rails on which the Spectator set it—beautifully. It has at length arrived face to face with the final accomplishment of its purpose. I am anxious ; but far less anxious than I am glad. Taught by you, Sir, I have tried always to be chaste in my expectations of this movement. But it has exceeded them all, and I cannot be chaste any more. It is going to accomplish it. The beautiful ship cannot perish now. Or if it does, it will perish in full sight of home.—I am, Sir, &c.,
Windylaw, Lisvang, Cardiff. J. W. SCOTT.
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