THE LAND PROBLEM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15513, 21 January 1914, Page 9

THE LAND PROBLEM.

CONDITIONS OF LABOURERS.

COTTAGES FROM STATE.

BOLD COURSE TAKEN.

B-f Telegraph Press —Copyright.

' i Received January 20, 11.15 p.ra.)

/ London, January 20. (A land conference, representing the

chief agricultural bodies, has published a reply to the report by the Acland Committee. This agrees that labourers' wages must be im-

proved, and wages boards and land f y courts established, hut contends that tho excessive load of taxation on the land partly explains the diminution of the arable area and the low wages. The conference suggests that commissions of practical men from various districts should inquire into the wages and stimulate public opinion to secure a fair wage-

Mr. W. Runciman (Liberal M.P. for Dewsbury), speaking at Brompton (Cumberland) last night, said the present rural housing conditions had made the Government undertake the bold course of providing cottages. He could build sufficient accommodation for 50,000 people for half the cost of a single Dreadnought. Fresh food, he declared, was more important than steel and iron. EFFECT OF "SPEEDING-UP." Times-Sydney Sun Special Cable. (Received January 20. 7.50 p.m.) London, January 20. The conference further condemned the Liberal Wages Board proposal, on the ground that the "speeding-up" rendered necessary would mean the employment of more machinery, and the ruthless weed-ine;-oiit of those past the prime of life.