UNIONIST SOCIAL POLICY

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 632, 8 October 1909, Page 7

UNIONIST SOCIAL POLICY

MOTION BY SIR G. PARKER. K,, ■■.■'■'' '."•■ ——:I>o,.sv ' -''•' LAND BANKS: : ■•-.;::: (By Telegraph-Press Association-CopTrieht.) ■'< „,'■''■ . London, October 6.-'" ''* Iri the House of Commons Sir Gilbert; Parker,' Unionist member for, Grayosend, has given notice of a motion approving tho policy ofthe" establishment of land banks, and; urging tho Government to appoint a Select Committee to inquire into, the working of land "banks and similar institutions in tho colonics. ' , "OUT-PROGRAMMED." * The recent tendency of some prominent members of tho Unionist party to give special prominence to certain measures of social reform is apparently part : of a concerted movement. ■ Not long ago the "D;iily Mail" (Unionist) declared that the . Unionists were in danger of being "out-programmed" by the Liberals, and .that tariff reform, 1 though a great plank, must be reinforced. ' ; Tariff reform, the "Mail" argued, must bo "associated with a vigorous and comprehensive sochl policy. .. Our Imperial programme must, therefore undertake to give all the en. couragement possible to Small Holdings; to attempts at improving the farm labourer's outlook, and securing for farmers fair rents and firm tenure; to Land Banks which will ; lend money an tho security of holdings; to co-operation among producers; to county council schemes of agricultural Education; to all efforts which have for their objects tho stopping of the moa rush, to- tjowns for work which is not there, and the bringing-up of children to find their greatest happiness in country life." -An instalment, of this policy is found in Sir Gilbert Parker's motion cabled to-day. The same leaven is seen working in tho recent speech nt Leeds by Earl Percy, ■ Unionist member of tho Houso of Commons for South Kensington, who stated that when the Unionists were returned to power they would lighten the burden of agriculture,:,would orgamso a system of co-operation to counteract the unfair advantage tho foreigner now enjoyed, and would arrange a scheme of lending State moneys at a low rato of interest for tho acquisition: of small holdings.