150 THE MURDER OF AGRICULTURE 



of the Opposition. One writer, in speaking of the British 



Parliament, has truly said : 



" Let your measure be framed by Divine Authority 

 and brought in by angels, and it will be thrown out by 

 the Opposition." 



At all events, that the land question has been in the 

 mind of Governments more than once is evidenced by, 

 among others, the Acts of : 



1883 and 1900. Agricultural Holdings Acts. 

 1892. Small Holdings Act. 

 1899. Improvement of Land Act. 

 1903. Irish Land Act. 



1907. Scottish Small Holdings Bill and the EngUsh 

 Small Holdings Bill, etc. 



But the poor, paltry, half-hearted measures that have 

 been given to the country show clearly enough that 

 although the Governments of the past realised that a 

 change, at least in our agrtcw/^Mm/ system, was necessary, 

 they had not the courage of their convictions. They 

 knew that it was useless to bring in a BiU that would do 

 all that was necessary ; a real purging measure of relief, 

 that would sweep away all those obstructions which 

 cling to the great land industry and convert a really 

 strong, powerful national organism into a weak, languish- 

 ing, paltry thing which is a source of pity and commisera- 

 tion to the country. 



They knew it was useless to attempt to reform our 

 Land Laws and to give to the country a sensible, practi- 

 cal code, whereby the land would be worked under con- 

 ditions that would ensure the maximum measure of sue- 



