64 THE BRITISH EMPIRE: — UNITED KINGDOM
1920, the number of Fair Rents fixed under the Irish Land Acts for a First Statutory Term was 382,975, with an average reduction of 207 per cent, on previous rents ; for a Second Statutory Term, 144,094, with an average reduction of 19*3 per cent, on first term rents ; and for a Third Statutory Term, 6,032, with an average reduction of 9*1 percent, on second term rents.
The Land Purchase Acts commenced with the ' Bright Clauses ' of the Act of 1870, but the system was greatly extended by the 'Ashbourne Act' of 1885, under which 9,992,5362. cash was advanced for Land Purchase. A new system was adopted under Mr. Balfour's Act of 1891, which created a special Land Stock for Land Purchase purposes. Under the Irish Land Act of 1903 cash advances are made to enable tenants to purchase their holdings under the supervision of three Estates Commissioners, the money for advances being raised by the issue of Land Stock bearing interest at 2| per cent. The State is secured by a Guarantee Fund which consists of the various Funds voted by Parliament for Irish Local purposes. The Land Stock could not be issued except at a large discount, and the Land Act of 1909 provided that for future purchasers the money may be raised by the issue of a 3 per cent, stock, and in making advances the Treasury may give the vendor such stock instead of paying cash. Under this Act the Congested Districts Board was recon- stituted,' the area of its work extended and its income increased. Compulsory powers of purchase were also given to the Estates Commissioners and the Congested Districts Board.
The total amount of the purchase money for which advances have been made under the Irish Land Purchase Acts, 1870 to 1909, up to March 31, 1920, was 108,795,2582., of which 106,933,8392. was advanced, and 1,861,4192. was lodged in cash by purchasers. In addition, 4,609,1312. was advanced to that date by the Land Commission to Rural District Councils, for the erection of labourers' cottages, under the Labourers (Ireland) Acts.
In England and Wales, the Board of Agriculture make grants for, aud, to some extent, supervise vocational education and scientific research in agriculture. In 1916-17 these grants totalled 76,1772. (against 98,6462. in 1915-16), largely from the Development Fund (see below). The Board of Agriculture for Scotland dispenses certain grants for the development and improvement of agriculture, including agricultural education and research, in that country. In Ireland the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction provides itinerant lecturers who give instruction in agriculture, horticulture, bee-keeping, butter-making, poultry-keeping, &c. There arc 3 agricultural stations where farm apprenticeships are provided, and nume- rous agricultural schools and colleges. There are also winter agricultural classes and schools of rural domestic economy.
Under the Development and Road Improvement Funds Acts, 1909 and 1910, there are eight "Development Commissioners," appointed to advise the Treasury in the administration of a national fund for the development of agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and analogous resources of the United Kingdom. The total sum guaranteed to the fund was 2,900,0002. : interest on investments, and other receipts, up to 31 March, 1920, made the total available funds, 3,541,0002. In 1920-21 a further 1,000,0002. was voted to the Fund. The grants and loans recommended to the Treasury by the Com- missioners down to 31 March, 1918 (which, however, have not all been sanctioned or expended), amounted to 2,794,0002., including 1,780,0002. for agriculture and rural industries ; 277,0002. for forestry ; 394,0002. for harbours ; 142,0002. for fisheries; 110,0002. foe inland navigation ; 80,0002. for rural transport.
