910 READINGS IN RURAL ECONOMICS 



may therefore be two, or probably more, Appeal Courts in 

 operation, as any judge may be nominated as an additional 

 commissioner. The evident object is to secure greater rapidity 

 in dealing with cases, and remove the congestion in the 

 Land Courts. 



The amendments to the Laborers' Acts are merely a new 

 definition of an " agricultural laborer," and the recognition of 

 the wishes of the applicants in the choice of sites for cottages. 

 The fuller treatment of the workers' case is reserved for further 

 legislation, which is promised for next year ; but this under 

 present political conditions is rather doubtful (which is to be 

 regretted), as the laboring class in Ireland is the one which 

 presents the chief problem for the future. Even though it has 

 improved since the time when the Devon Commission reported 

 that " the Irish laborer was the worst fed, worst clothed, and 

 worst housed in Europe," there is much room for further ad- 

 vance. The chief hope of the agricultural worker lies in the 

 opening up of opportunities for the acquisition of land by the 

 use of energy and thrift. 



The question of greatest interest in connection with the new 

 act is, of course, How will it work for its admitted purpose, the 

 transfer of Irish estates to the tenants ? So many attempts have 

 been made that it seems absurd to expect that the present measure 

 is to be the final one. It is almost certain that a pressing claim 

 will be urged for increase of the donation of ^12,000,000 pro- 

 vided to " oil " the wheels of the system ; and some concessions 

 on this head may be expected, particularly if any Irish funds or 

 British grants to Ireland are available. Then there is some reason 

 for thinking that the administrative working of the act will not 

 be as rapid as is generally desired. Though the new commis- 

 sioners will be more energetic, and the examination of titles 

 much simpler, yet some inquiry will be necessary, and there will 

 be delay in working out the details of transfer. If land to the 

 value of ,5,000,000 or ,6,000,000 per annum changes hands, 

 it will be as much as can reasonably be expected. The total 

 period over which the operation would extend would then run 

 to twenty years. 



