TITLES. 263 



freehold land. Australia has a right to be 

 proud of the Torrens system of land titles, 

 which in effect makes the holding, mortgage, and 

 transfer of land almost as simple as that of 

 scrip ; which gives absolutely indefeasible titles, 

 with the provision of an indemnity fund, so 

 that if wrong has been done by the grant of 

 any title, the wrong shall be righted out of the 

 indemnity fund, and not by disturbing the title 

 to the land. Torrens Title is not sympathetic 

 to "Fines," " Heriots," "Manorial Incidents," 

 and the like. But there is room for it in the 

 British land system, especially in dealing with 

 the new small holdings which are to be created 

 if all goes well. Should it be really desired, of 

 course, the old-fashioned, cumbrous, and ex- 

 pensive system of English land titles could be 

 swept away, as the old system of seigneurial 

 tenure in Quebec was abolished by purchase 

 half a century ago. But the question is hardly 

 a vital one. Where the existing system of titles 

 has a definitely repressive effect on British agri- 

 culture, it is in its restrictions on development 

 by a tenant-in-life. If the legislation now pro- 

 posed is carried through, those will be remedied. 



