ITS LESSONS AND ITS WARNINGS 69 

 Mr. Hall fully describes the methods of 

 reclamation. He estimates the cost of the bare 

 heath at from 5 to 7 an acre, the cost of the 

 reclaiming at from 5 to 6 an acre, and adds 

 that the reclaimed land after a few years' cultiva- 

 tion would sell at from 20 to 30 an acre. He 

 speaks of increased taxes and local rates pay- 

 able by the new agricultural community, and 

 concludes by saying that " the reclamation of 

 such heath land is a long-sighted policy and a 

 sound commercial venture." 



PUBLIC LANDS 



The Royal Commission on the " Depression of 

 Agriculture " reported that in their opinion the 

 management of land by public bodies is " in- 

 efficient, cumbrous and expensive." This is 

 borne out by a report of the Crown Lands Com- 

 mission (No. 53, 1907, page 3), in which the very 

 heavy expenses of the Commissioners are re- 

 corded. 



The Ecclesiastical Commissioners control about 

 314,000 acres of land, which are let to tenants at 

 various rents. The expenses of management 

 would be saved and the land would be far more 



