EVIDENCE OF WITNESSES IN 1890 321 



every single witness examined on the point that 

 they could not be entirely overlooked. It is in- 

 teresting to note, however, that, in the summary 

 of the Committee's conclusions, they content 

 themselves with the insertion of half a clause 

 acknowledging the fact that these causes had, 

 with others, greatly tended to the decrease of small 

 holdings. 



There is not a single suggestion that any further 

 inquiry need be held on this point. 



All the suggestions made are in view of direct 

 legislation to facilitate the creation of small 

 holdings. 



A study of the evidence shows that there is not 

 a single dissentient voice as to the desirability, from 

 every point of view, of increasing the number of 

 small holdings. There are some, however, who 

 object to legislative action in the matter, and these, 

 while still advocating their extension, ' would like 

 it left to the laws of supply and demand.' 



There is a certain irony in the advice when the 

 natural supply to the economic demand is, in so 

 many cases, artificially withheld by the statute law 

 of the country. 



Let us now turn to a consideration of the prac- 

 tical use made of the evidence as regards framing 

 the Act of 1892. 



The following seem to be the chief points open 

 to argument : 



1. Whether the law should be framed to en- 

 courage occupying ownership or perpetual tenancy. 



21 



