762 REPORT— 1886. 



one iDarrier after another to the acquisition of the land by individual settlers has 

 been broken down, until there is no civilised country in w^hich a more liberal land 

 policy exists. In fact, if the rapid disappearance of the public domain may be 

 taken as a proof of the success of such a policy, it would be difficult to instance 

 another case where the fiat of the legislator has worked such wondrous results. 



The author describes the most important features of the existing public land 

 system of the United States — the pre-emption and the homestead laws. He ex- 

 presses the opinion that those laws sadly interfere with each other, and that with 

 the passage of the latter, the former should have been repealed. He proceeds to 

 show that as soon as the available supply of food began to fail the expediency of 

 continuing existing methods became a serious question. If the land reached the 

 actual settler, complaint would be less loud ; but, as it is, there is every reason to 

 believe that the bulk of the lands disposed of reaches the hands of speculators and 

 land-grabbers. 



The cheapness and abundance of land have been said to result in the premature 

 diifusion of population and loose and insufficient methods of cultivation ; but in 

 the author's opinion these evils are self-correcting. 



In spite of the outcry against the waste of the public lands, the underlying 

 principle of the land laws — that the land should belong to the actual settler — has 

 never been questioned. The theories of Henry George, however popular they have 

 become among a certain class, have not created any feeling against the cession by 

 the Government of a full and free title to public lands, where, if anywhere, a 

 favom-able field is offered for a trial of his scheme. 



The paper concludes by stating that three policies have been suggested and 

 require to be considered — (1) That the land laws be changed and honestly 

 administered, so as to favour the settler. (2) That a restriction be placed upon 

 immigration so as to decrease the demand for land. (3) That a career of conquest 

 or acquisition be entered upon, by which new and unoccupied territory can be 

 secured. 



The old land policy is still working out its ends ; as to the future policy, ten- 

 dencies only can be noted and conclusions drawn. Just now it is sufficient to say 

 whether the existing system is to be commended or criticised. 



8. The Effect of Aspect on Wheat-yields. By Dr. A. Hayiland. 



SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4. 



The following Papers were read :^ 



1. Worhing Men's Co-operative Organisations in Great Britain. 

 By A. H. Dtke Acland, M.P. 



This paper deals not with so-called civil service co-operative societies, nor 

 directly with the question of industrial partnerships. 



The question here considered is as follows : — 



How far does the development of the working men's co-operative organisations, 

 especially during the last twenty years, throw light on — 



I. The possibility of the accumulation of large sums of capital by working men. 



II. The possibility of the successful utilisation of such capital by working men 

 in industrial enterprise. 



III. The improvement of the position of the worker, or the lessening of the- 

 antagonism of employer and employed in consequence of such successful utilisation 

 of capital. 



I. The main source of savings is to be found in the co-operative stores or distri- 

 butive societies, which do a business of considerably over 20,000,000/. a year. 



