WHAT WILL DO GOOD IN IRELAND. 211 



in country places, the Government, by offering 2 

 per cent, could probably get any sum wanted for 

 advances to enable occupiers to buy their farm. I 

 would suggest that only a definite sum yearly should 

 be advanced, say 100,000, so that by the time a 

 really large sum total was reached, a substantial part 

 of the first advances would have been repaid. With 

 firmness there need be no loss, as there has not been 

 a shilling of loss on the millions advanced to land- 

 owners for drainage, who ex hypothesi are so bad, 

 whilst tenants are so good. The only risk of loss is if 

 we have a Government that for its own political pur- 

 poses does not care to resist the beggar's whine. Any 

 doubt in Ireland whether money need be paid or not, 

 is sure to settle itself the wrong way, against paying. 



Of course advances by the Government for such a 

 purpose cannot be justified on the highest economical 

 principles. But the object of increasing the number 

 of owners of land is a good and important one. And 

 if it can be brought about without cost to the tax- 

 payers and with no serious risk, it is worth trying. 

 But the same advantage should be given to persons 

 in England and Scotland who wish to buy land to a 

 moderate extent. With like limitation as to the 

 amount to be advanced, and with proper selection of 

 borrowers, so as to avoid speculators, there would be 

 less risk than in Ireland, and no less advantage. 



To do away with the invidious feeling that land 

 is a monopoly in few hands is no small object. A 



