XXIV ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL JUSTICE 445 



obviously reasonable, and so free from all interference with 

 the fair money-value of the landlord's property, that, with 

 a little energy and persistent agitation, it might possibly 

 be carried in two or three years. Such an Act might be 

 more or less in the following form : — 



' ' Whereas the security and inviolability of the Home is an essen- 

 tial condition of political freedom and social well-being, it is hereby 

 enacted, that no tenant shall hereafter be evicted from his house or 

 homestead, or have his household goods seized, for any other cause 

 than non-payment of rent, and every heir or successor of such tenant 

 shall be equally secure so long as the rent is paid. " 



A second clause would provide for a permanently fair 

 rent. 



Now, will not some advanced Liberal bring in such a 

 Bill annually till it is carried ? It is, I think, one that 

 would receive the support of a large number of reformers, 

 because it is absolutely essential to the free and fair 

 operation of the Parish and District Councils, and is equally 

 necessary for the well-being of the farmer and the trades- 

 man, as w^ell as for the mechanic and labourer. The 

 annual discussion of the subject in Parliament would be 

 of inestimable value, since it would a,fford the opportunity 

 of bringing prominently before the voters the numerous 

 cases of gross tyranny and cruel injustice which are yearly 

 occurring, but which now receive little consideration. 



The Unborn not to Inherit Property. 



The next great guiding principle, and one that will 

 enable us to carry out the resumption of the land without 

 real injury to any individual, is,- that we should recognize 

 no rights to property in the unborn, or even in persons 

 under legal age, except so far as to provide for their 

 education and give them a suitable but moderate pro- 

 vision against want. This may be justified on two grounds. 

 Firstly, the law allows to individuals the right to will 

 away their property as they please, so that not even the 

 eldest son has any vested interest, as against the power 

 of the actual owner of the property to leave it to whom or 

 for what purpose he likes. Now, what an individual is 



