ii4 THE LANDED INTEREST. 



enjoyment by subdivision into severalty owner- 

 Its various ship. Advantage of the office has from time to 



functions. 



time been taken by Parliament for objects of an 

 analogous character. The Drainage and Land 

 Improvement Acts are administered by this 

 Commission, the object of these Acts being, as 

 already explained, to permit landowners to 

 borrow money for permanent improvements, 

 and to charge their lands with the cost of these 

 on the principle of such annual payments as 

 within a definite period will reimburse both 

 principal and interest. The control exercised 

 by the Government department insures that the 

 proposed improvement shall be both beneficial 

 and well executed, and that the future possessor 

 of the property may not find himself on his 

 succession called on to pay for unprofitable 

 outlays made by his predecessor. But any 

 Government control in such circumstances is 

 really the fruit of the artificial system of entail 

 and settlement. 

 Formation The office is also entrusted with the forma- 



<>f Main 



Drainage tion of commissions for the drainage of districts 



Commis- 

 sions, liable to floods, under which works embracing 



