SMALL LANDOWNERS. TO GUARD AGAINST SOCIALISM.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 108, 3 November 1909, Page 7

SMALL LANDOWNERS. TO GUARD AGAINST SOCIALISM.

LAND FOR THE PEOPLE. A PLANK IN THE UNIONIST PLATFORM. By Telegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright. (Received November 3, 8.5 a.m.) LONDON, 2nd November. The Right Hon. A. J. Balfour, Leader of the Opposition, in a preface to Sir Gilbert Parker's pamphlet "The Land for the People," remarks that more is required for the full success of the small farmer than the magic of ownership, and it may be described in two words — "credit" and "co-operation." Sir Gilbert Parker, in a letter to The Times, declares that Mr. Balfour has in his programme embodied the Unionist policy of small ownership of land. He adds that the Radical Party has committed itself irrevocably to the principle of perpetual tenancy. The Daily Mail declares that the Radicals, owing to Socialist opposition, dare not create a multitude of small landowners. These would be a buttress against Socialism. THE COUNTRY IN REVOLT. AGAINST LAND MONOPOLY. WHAT THE BUDGET IS DOING. LONDON, 2nd November. Mr. Lloyd-George, Chancellor of the Exchequer, contributes a special article to the current issue of the "Nation," a Liberal weekly review of politics, and claims that five by-elections since the introduction of the Budget show that the majority of the voters have been in favour of the Budget. The Bermondsey contest last week (in which 4726 votes were polled by the Liberal and Socialist candidates against the 4278 cast for the successful one, Mr. J. Dumphreys, Unionist and Tariff Reformer) was, Mr. Lloyd-George points out, no exception to this rule. ' "The enthusiasm created by the Budget," the Chancellor declares, "means that the, country has risen in revolt against land monopoly." He suggests that the new State valuations must be the basis for all plans of commercial purchase for municipalities, for the development of towns, and for State recreation of rural life. .Mr. Lloyd-George adds: "We are free ing Ireland from crippling landlordism. Is nothing to be done for England?" i r