I will, but not to-night. I may be told that owing to the amount of small and uneconomic holdings, and the number of landless people, if the land was divided amongst them they would not be in the position the rancher is in to-day of paying Income Tax. In that case naturally the finances of the Government would be losing a considerable amount. That may be one of the reasons why there is such delay on the part of the Land Commission in dealing with the Land Act of 1923. I may be also told that according to the provisions of that Act, when the Land Commission acquires lands, all tenants living on them must get two months notice in order that they may say if they have any valid objection to the taking over of the lands. The Minister may probably say, the same as his colleague in the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, that his staff is too small. I want a definite statement from the Minister. I speak on behalf of the people who are suffering and who have no other means of livelihood. I know the feelings of those people, having gone amongst them. They are not contented, and I warn the Minister for Lands and Agriculture that unless he wants to have agitation through the country which will cause him and the Land Commission a great deal of annoyance, he will advise his officials to have the lands handed over and divided amongst the people.
In 1901 and 1902 we had a regular campaign of "The land for the people" throughout the country. In 1903 a Bill was introduced into the British House of Commons that enabled the landlords to sell out. In 1923 the agitation again started in order to secure land for the people, and the Minister for Lands and Agriculture, on behalf of the Government, introduced a Bill which, he said, was going to do justice and that the people would benefit from. Has one citizen of the Saorstát benefited in any way by that Act up to the present? When is it likely that any lands will be divided? If you write to the Department you get a reply that your letter has been received, and that it will receive prompt attention.