THE BREAK UP OF BIG ESTATES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume xxxii, Issue 8375, 23 May 1911, Page 1

THE BREAK UP OF BIG ESTATES.

The London " Spectator," in discuss^ ing the break up of big estates in England, says the old relations between the landowners and their tenant far-; mers seem now doomed to extinction. Two causes are co-operating to bring this about. On the one hand, farming is distinctly more profitable than it was twenty, or even ten, years ago. Prices of agricultural produce hare, risen, and simultaneously the farmers have become better equipped for thenprofession, with the result that, they are able to make profits where they' predecessors could barely cover expenses. On this account there is keen, competition for every vacant farm This fact by itself, however, would not necessarily lead to the breaking up of big estates, for there is abundant evidence that the tenants of a great estate would .prefer to pay higher rents rather than see a new landlord take the place of the old one. In o^e or. tiyo potable instances the tenants Have in a body offered their" 1 andlofed to pay a higher rent if he would ab^ stain from selling his property. It may therefore- be stated without hesitation that the present breaking up of large estates would not have Taken place unless another influence had beeri at work. The other .influence, in plain language, is the attitude of the poll-, tician toward the landowner. Not only are many landowners subjected to a higher rate of taxation than the owners of other forms of property, but landowners, as .a class are denounced as if they were semi-criminals. No body of men can be permanently expected to subject themselves to an economic disadvantage if that involves political obloquy as well. Landowners may be, and are perfectly willing to accept :; a low rate of interest on their invest; ments in land, and; to discharge the duties expected of an English landowner, provided they receive in return, at any ratej a passive acknowledgment of,-their service; but ,if, instead of ariy such acknowjedgVnent ,they are treated as enemies'^of the human race, they cannot be blamed fo rwishing to escape-^ from a doubly unpleasant situation. We • may therefore take it as certain that " tlte process of breaking \lp big estates will continue. . : ••'-■ 1: