OLD LANDS AND NEW.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17986, 1 February 1924, Page 13

OLD LANDS AND NEW.

ENGLISH EARL'S THOUGHTS

The disappearance of the old English landed estate, and tho opportunities for British settlement in tho southern Dominions, were touched ou by tho Earl of Hairowby in the course of an interview with a representative of "Tho Press'' yesterday. Lord Harrowby ia interested in a number of small land holdings at Home, and naturally he is interested in the development of the Dominions and tho immigration question. He had had no opportunity of going into tho question of immigration as it affected New Zealand, but ho believed this country was doing very well under the nominated system. Ho hoped that the transference of people from the Old Country to the Dominions would continue steadily. There were 5,000,000 people too many at Home.

The agricultural estate in England was not a paying proposition. , Tlio land-owner unless lie had other sources of income, could not afford to live on his estate. . More . land had changed hands during the last fire years than for many years before, and he thought the ultimate end would be tho breaking Tip of all the holdings. The small squires had already disappeared. The disappearance of the small estates was a great pity. They were the glory of England. The farmers had bought during the boom years and now they were suffering. Unless something were done for agriculture it would be extremely difficult for it to carry on, £L'he small holding was economically unsound. He had small holdings which had everything—good land, good markets, and good roads—but they were not a success. The English agricultural industry could *not compete against tho Dominions and the world generally, where big areas and machinery were employed. Lord Harroivby disagreed entirely with the view on the "White Australia" question recently expressed by Lord Leverhulme. "When asked what he thought of the poiicv he answered.: "I entirely approve of it. Coming from South Africa, and knowing their difficulties there, I consider that tlio next generation will thank tlicir predecessors fo-r keeping Australia white." In Australia, he added, lie had found a good type of settler. Upon his return to Australia, at tho completion of his New Zealand tour Lord Harrow by will visit a number of tho small settlements in the irrigated areas of New South Wales and Victoria. Australia's immigration system must be, on a comprehensive scale, for tho Australians could not hope to keep such a huge eountrv empty. Their policy must bo bolder than in the past.