LAND REGISTRATION IN MOZA.M DiyUE. 413 



immovable wealth — the question was dealt with for merely liscal 

 purposes ; the geometric identification of plots and the classifica- 

 tion of the value of land and the revenue it yields assisted in the 

 solution of the administrative problem of assessing the property 

 tax. while the boundaries and classification of properties showed 

 the taxable matter. The doctrine of the learned magistrate. 

 Robernier. and that of the distinguished Piedmontese geo- 

 metrician, Ignacio Porro, the main point of which lies in the 

 principle of the connection between the Geometrical Survey and 

 public registration in the Deeds Office of the rights and encum- 

 brances of immovable property, were thus forgotten. 



This fundamental doctrine, which is now endorsed in the 

 surveys of the present day, and assumes the perfect character of 

 a legal and fiscal registration, is confirmed by Tersanst's words 

 at the Property Congress on the lOth August, 1899, when he 

 said : " Registration should consist for each property of one 

 single document, easy to read, and containing the plan of the 

 immovable property and brief references as to its legal status." 



- As to the legal and technical aspect of this doctrine, so 

 simple in its enunciation, but so complex in actual practice, 1 

 have found nothing more complete than the work prepared by 

 the extra-Parliamentary (irand Commission of Land Registra- 

 tion in France in i8<;i, which was formed by men of the highest 

 judicial competence in that country and by eminent professional 

 geometricians and experts in the branches of the application of 

 geodesy and topography to the measurement of the ground. 



Monsieur Rouvier, then Minister of Finance, put the ques- 

 tion to the extra- Parliamentary Commission under the following 

 points : — 



La propriete doit etre detenninee d'aI)ord ph.vsiquement, puis juri- 

 diquement. 



La determination juridique doit faire connaitre les droits qui existent 

 sur rimmeubles, principalement le droit de propriete. II v aura lieu 

 d'examiner si Ton droit adopter le systeme ayant pour base une absolue 

 et complete publicite de la propriete fonciere et de ses demembrements et 

 si Ton doit y ajouter I'obligation de la specialisation de tons les privileges 

 et hypotheques. 



Les effects de la determination pbysique et juridique de rimmeuble 

 doivent etre constatees dans un document publique et authentique, c'cst Ic 

 fitrc de propriete quelle sera la valeur de ce titre? 



De meme toute modification du droit de propriete soit a I'egard du 

 titulaire soit en ce qui concerne I'etendue du droit lui meme, parait devoir 

 etre notee tout a la fois sur le titre e sur le livre foncier. De la resultc 

 i'obligation de determiner les formalites a prescrire pour les inscriptions 

 e les tranmissions des titres e a cette question se rattache encore I'etude 

 de la creation de cedules hypothecaires. 



On ne devra pas perdre de vue le but a atteindre consiste a creer un 

 titre foncier dont la valeur juridique incontestable en assurant la facilite 

 de transmissions, ainsi que la securite des dententeurs du sol, des crean- 

 ciers hypothecaires, pcrmettra de jeter les bases du credit agricole. 



Monsieur Poincarre, in his position as reporter to the 

 Budget Commission, had already explained at the meeting of the 



