27 < N f J L Owing to war economies land improvement work on a large scale was suspended in 1915 on completion of the 1,658 feddans in Kafr-el-Wekala, Belqas Estate. Since that date no large scheme has been undertaken, but it has been found possible to push on steadily with imjDrovement work on a small scale in Beshbish Estate concurrently with ordinary farming. The scheme for improvement of Belqas Estate abandoned in 1915 is being resumed and pushed on this year.

The principal sales during the period under review have been the sale of 36,643 feddans of the Eayoura Estate, and the disposal of small outlying plots of State property scattered throughout the provincees.

On the reversion of the Domains estates to the Government in 1913 it was decided, on Lord Kitchener’s initiative, to sell the greater part of Fayoum Estate, ofl'ering it, as far as local conditions might permit, m small lots at a fixed price on easy terms of payment and giving preference to cultivators and inhabitants of the locality. This estate, of an area of about 40,000 feddans, had been given on lease since 1.879. Early in 1914. a valuation was made on a moderate basis and offers were invited. These at first poured in, but the fall in the value of cotton in 1914 deterred most purchasers, and during the years 1914, 1915 and 1916 the success of the scheme seemed to be doubtful. The rise in agricultural values, however, saved the situation, and in 1917 and 1918 such a rush of applications was received that it was impossible to satisfy all demands. _ Committees were appointed to sift the hundreds of applications and allot areas in accordance with individual capacity and claims. The valuation, which had been made when cotton was fetching about 19 dollars, was naturally far below market value of land in 1917 and 1918, when the price of cotton had more than doubled, and this disparity aroused some criticism; but in view of the fact that the object of the sale was to benefit the inhabitants of the locality and also that the price is payable in seven annual instalments, the last of which will not fall due till 1926, when land values may have again fallen; it was decided to adhere to the original valuation. On the whole the Government received good value for its property, and the inhabitants of the locality obtained an excellent bargain.

Considering that there were over 4,800 purchasers of plots under 5 feddans in area and over 1,330 purchasers of plots between 5 and 20 feddans, thus creating over 6,000 small holdings, it may fairly be claimed that the results were a success from an economic point of view. The sale of one portion of the estate, amounting to about 2,700 feddans, has been suspended pending modifications in the irrigation system and in view of the possible need of an experimental farm in this district.

Details of the areas sold in each year are given below, also statistics of the numbers of purchasers :— AREA.

Fed. Kir. Sahm.

Sales »ip to March 31, 1915 Sales from April 1, 191.5, to March 31, 1916 1, 1916,to „ 31, 1917 1, 1917, to „ 31, 1918 1, 1918, to „ 31, 1919 1, 1919,to „ 31,1920 n n 9} 19 11 M 11 Total Price.

£E. 73,300 92,254 134,323 366,878 679,211 724,412 2,070,378 Average price per feddan, £ E. 56'656.

Number of Purchasers.

Less than 5 feddans 5 to 20 feddans ... 20 to 25 feddans More than 50 feddans Total ... • • • Area sold [3437 2/—2] 4,806 1,337 201 80 6,424 36,543 E 2 House of Commons Parliamentary Papers Online. Copyright (c) 2006 ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved.