THE LAW.
The Law of Property Act, 1922: How Will it Work ? By Mr. Harvey's expert criticism of the stupendous Act which Lord Birkenhead induced Parliament to pass without serious debate or inquiry, must raise grave doubts as to the wisdom of our legislators. Mr. Harvey challenges the assertion that the Act has simplified the sale or transfer of land and gives very good reasons for his belief that the Act has, in truth," increased the mysteries of conveyancing " and made it more expensive, especially for small estates. He questions, indeed, whether the new and unfamiliar system of conveyancing will ever be generally adopted. He denounces the " land-like-stock " idea in the strongest terms, maintaining not unreasonably that land differs, and must always differ, from any other kind of property, and that the present methods must in effect be followed if a purchaser is to get an unquestionably valid title. We may draw attention also to Mr. Harvey's exposition, lucid though highly technical, of the probable effects of the new law of settlements, requiring the appointment of trustees in many cases where they have not been needed ; the law of executorship, again, seems to have been altered for the worse, and yet not amended where amendment was desirable.
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