Allotments

ALLOTMENTS. An allotment, in England and Wales, as defined by the Allotments acts 1922 and 1925, is any parcel of land above 4ac., but not exceeding five ac. in extent, which is cultivated as a farm or garden, or partly as a farm and partly as a garden. In other words, it is a small agricultural holding, sub ject to the same terms relating to notice to quit and compensation. Such allotments are almost exclusively confined to rural districts and are to be found principally in the Fen District and where the soil is suitable for market gardening. In Scotland and Ireland the proportion of allotments is relatively small (due mainly to backward legislation), but they are now governed by laws framed very largely on the English model.

The word "allotment," as popularly used, means something entirely different, and really refers to an "allotment-garden." This is defined by the act of 1922 as "an allotment not exceeding 40 poles in extent, which is wholly, or mainly, cultivated by the occupier for the production of vegetables and fruit crops for consumption by himself or his family." The overwhelming num ber of allotments are of this kind, and in this article the term "allotments" must be taken generally in this sense.

The Small Holdings and Allotments act, 1908, was followed by a great increase in the number of allotments. On Dec. 31, 1909, there were 58,648 allotments covering an area of 17,529ac., increased on Dec. 31, 1914, to 130,526 allotments and 33,523 acres. During that period, land-renting associations were formed in all parts of the country with the object of procuring and managing land for their members.

Allotments for the War.

TheWorld War changed the whole aspect of the problem. The provision of allotments had been, hitherto, largely a rural question, but the food shortage which developed as the war went on transferred the problem from the countryside to the towns and cities. Home food produc tion on a larger scale became an imperative necessity. To ensure this, emergency legislation under the Defence of the Realm regu lations was passed in 1916-17 (since withdrawn), the effect of which was to give local authorities powers for the compulsory acquisition of land for allotments. The powers granted were at first confined to the appropriation of vacant land, i.e., undeveloped building sites, but were afterwards extended so that practically any land could be acquired. Hitherto, the statutory right to an allotment was confined to the "labouring population," but this limitation was withdrawn. The result was that by Dec. 31 1920, there were 1,330,000 allotments, embracing 185,00o acres. Even then there remained unsatisfied applicants.

When the temporary allotments which had been used were taken for purposes of greater public utility, a widespread demand for alternative land on a more permanent tenure was made. This desire may be traced in a series of acts of parliament : The Land Settlement (Facilities) act, 1919; the Agriculture act, 1920; the Allotments act, 1922; the Agricultural Rates act, 1923 ; and the Allotments act, 1925. This legislation entitled the allotment holder, under normal circumstances, to a six months' minimum notice to quit ; compensation for crops and manures when less notice was received ; concessions in local rates and representation on the statutory allotments committees of local authorities. The 1925 act enabled associations to borrow from the Public Works Loan Commissioners up to two-thirds of the value of land pur chased, repayment being spread over a maximum period of 35 years. Local authorities providing allotments were also empow ered, if necessary, to incur a loss not exceeding a id. rate when action was taken under the Allotments acts. They might also obtain allotments in advance of the demand, and were compelled to consider what provision should be made for them in all schemes of town planning.

The great problem which confronts the allotment movement is insecurity of tenure. Allotment associations are helping to solve it themselves by the purchase of land where practicable, but this is impossible in congested areas where land is scarce and very expensive. Large allotment areas still exist where the tenan cies may be determined by short notices to quit. An increasing number of temporary allotments have been surrendered for build ing purposes.

Number of Allotments.

TheMinistry of Agriculture gave the figures at the end of 1923 as 1,190,00o allotments and, at the end of 1924, 1,170,000, a decrease of about 1.5%. There were 15,00o registered applicants waiting for allotments at the end of 1924. A further decrease of 64,00o was reported for 1925, and, in 1926, 27,00o more were lost, but the area was increased by i,000 acres in that year. The Minister of Agriculture stated in the House of Commons about the middle of 1927 that the rapid decline had been almost arrested.

Allotments produce 700,00o tons of foodstuffs each year, worth, approximately, f 7,000,000, and this produce not only increases the national wealth but makes a valuable contribution to the family budgets of over I ,000,000 families. From a small allot ment-garden of io rods (just over 30o sq.yd.) it is estimated that f I o worth of vegetables is obtained during the season, when the allotment is well-cultivated and planned for rotational crops.

Report of Proceedings under the Small Holdings and Allotment Acts, z92o (1921), 423 ; Report of the Departmental Committee on Allotments, 1921 (1922) ; Memorandum setting out the Provisions of the Allotments Act, 1922 (1922) ; Memorandum Indicating Amendments in the Allotments Act, 1922, Made by the Allotments Act, z925 (1925) ; Annual Report Allotments Organisation Society and Small Holders Ltd. (1926) .

(G. W. G.)