These squires, whether private or institutional, thus gained thousands, indeed tens of thousands of hectares. This allowed some to consider that the application of the principle devised by the East India Company is what originated the control by ruling élites over all the lands of the island of Réunion.
Private and institutional squires thus amassed vast areas, amounting to tens of thousands of hectares. This led some to conclude that it was the implementation of the principle pioneered by the East India Company that resulted in the dominance of elite groups over the entire island of Réunion.