§ MR. YERBURGH (Chester)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of the admitted national necessity of the increase of small holdings, the Government are prepared to advance money to landowners at a low rate of interest for the purpose of subdividing farms and erecting the necessary buildings thereon?
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONEThis is a question of great importance, but whether it can come up in a practicable form or not I cannot at the present 1383 moment undertake to say, but in principle it is supported by a precedent more or less available. The Government would not be justified in taking such a step except with a good deal of evidence to show that there was a desire to move in this direction and a considerable amount of disposition on the part of landed proprietors to encumber their estates for the beneficial purpose described. I cannot say I am aware that at the present time that disposition does exist to any great extent.