RISKS TO THE STATE 259 



ing with his landlord to buy his holding with the aid 

 of money from the public purse. . . . Many farmers 

 occupied farms which they would be glad to buy if 

 they could, but they were unable to buy through want 

 of money. . . . In all parts of the country farms would 

 be found for sale at low prices ; but still, a farm of five 

 hundred acres costing ;ifi2 an acre would involve a 

 large sum of purchase-money, which many men were 

 unable to put down at once. A man who occupied a 

 farm could afford to give a better price for it than 

 could be obtained if it went to the Mart, and to give 

 such a man facilities for purchase would be better both 

 for the tenant and the landlord." 



Mr. Christian (Fareham Farmers' Club) said that — 



"He had been sent to the meeting to oppose the 

 Bill, and the reason why that was the case was that 

 his Chamber did not understand the matter. He was 

 now going to support the Bill. . . . He had not heard 

 a good argument against it." 



Mr. Stanley (North Cotswold) and Mr. Gardner 

 (Worcestershire) supported the Bill on behalf of their 

 respective Chambers. Other members spoke in favour 

 of it, and there were four speakers against it. The 

 result was that the amendment was carried by a 

 majority of nearly two to one. 



The course and result of these discussions, so far 

 as they have gone, are anything but disappointing. 

 Farmers move slowly, but as a rule they move surely ; 

 and the important question is, what will be their 

 ultimate decision with regard to the Bill ? If they as 

 a body decide that it is framed in their best interests, 

 and wish to have the benefits which it offers, they must 

 bestir themselves ; for a mere passive support is not 

 sufficient to secure that the measure shall become law. 



