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THE TIMID LANDOWNER.

The Spectator makes roforenco to what it cills "tho rhetorical 'tall-talk' " on tho land question, and says it must bo regarded as "merely the babble of tho political auction room." It adds: — "Wo must never forget, however, that landowners aro timid people, and, what is more, aro people who have boen ronderod pessimistic by a Ion;; period of loss and depression. They aro therefore always inclined to fear tho worst, and to magnify ttio results of any propofcal which Ecams li&ely to injuro them. A man whose laad thirty years ago was producing £4000 a year grots, and whoto gross income from tho same land is now only £2500, aud who, in addition, has had all tho outgoings of the estate very considerably increased, is not likely to fesl cheerful or to hopo for tho bost whon ho is told that he iB a blcatod capitalist who for tho past generation 'has been battening in hateful luxury on the spoils of the poor, nnd wboSo unjust and injurious profits may bo rightly diminished by giving him a "fair" pries for his lend. Such a man, in faco of such talk, natuially takes a gloomy view, and being lethargic in matters of business as well es obstinate— lethargy and obstinacy in all parta of tho world seem to go with unprpfitab.e landowning — is almost certain to turn muliEh and to say: "Well, if the State means to rob nse, I cannot help it ; but at any rate I will not facilitate tho work. Instead of going quietly, I can at least insist on being dragged to tho place of oxocutlon." If this sort of spirit once lakes coEssssion of tlio landowner, ho will bo able to exorcise an amount of dragpewer upon any ichcinc for increasing tho number of smail cultivators which will probably turprisa the advocates of rural reform."

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19070720.2.153

Bibliographic details

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 18, 20 July 1907, Page 15

Word Count
312

THE TIMID LANDOWNER. Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 18, 20 July 1907, Page 15

THE TIMID LANDOWNER. Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 18, 20 July 1907, Page 15

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