1889-90.] TENTH MEETINa. 17 



Mr. Elvins was of opinion that the theory of Malthus had nothing to 

 do with the present paper. 



Mr. Boyle referred to a writer in England, who gave illustrations of the 

 effects of increased population. The correct explanation was that given 

 by John Stuart Mill, who when asked what was the greatest incumbrance 

 on the land, said it was the landlord. He shewed that while the pro- 

 prietor was getting more, the laborer was getting less. With every in- 

 crease of population the ground rents keep advancing. 



Mr. Douglass referred to some important tables got out by Mr. Giffard 

 which showed the result was in the course of a century that there was a 

 smaller proportion of large fortunes, and a larger proportion of small 

 fortunes. This related to England. Every man that looks into the 

 matter will find that the lots become divided into smaller portions. He 

 did not find that those who held the largest portions made more of them. 

 As to the contrast referred to between nature and man, he thought that 

 there was no opposition between them. He considered man the most 

 important part of nature. He asked where did they get natural distri- 

 bution ? We had no such thing handed down to us. It was a state 

 that had not existed. As to the theory of Malthus, he did not think 

 that anybody held to it in its present state. 



Mr. L. J. Clark said there seemed to be a want of definitertess in the 

 subject to satisfy his mind. He thought that there were many obscure 

 points about it. How would the single tax affect those portions of the 

 country that were of less value ? Would there be some correcting in- 

 fluence attending the tax ? He did not see any objection to men like 

 Vanderbilt accumulating wealth. He thought as distributors of wealth 

 they were an acquisition to the country. 



ELEVENTH MEETING. 



Eleventh Meeting, 25th January, 1890, Mr. Merritt in the chair. 



Donations and Exchanges since last meeting, 50. 



Mr. A. E. Rundle was elected a member, 



Mr. A. F. Chamberlain, M.A., read a paper on " The Indians of 

 Canada." 

 2 



