The Government's Land Settlement Bill, which was rend a second
time on Monday, is well meant, and may lead to the settlement of a considerable number of sailors and soldiers in small-holdings or farm colonies. We cannot but feel, how- ever, that the Bill should have been passed two years ago, and that more land should have been bought before the market price soared to its present height. Sir Arthur Boseawen said that the Board of Agriculture had purchased twenty thousand acres, which wilLnot go far to meet the demand. He rightly objected to indiscriminate buying, which might dispossess practised farmers to make room for inexpert beginners, and thus do more harm than good. The public would do well to moderate its expectations. We are heartily in favour of en- couraging email-holdings and small-ownership. "The magic of property turns sand into gold." But most men who want to go on the land would be perfectly content if they could be assured of employment at good wages, with a decent cottage to live in. Let us direct our agricultural policy so that the modest aspirations of this large and deserving class may be satisfied.
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