MR BRIGHT ON "FREE LAND."

Otago Witness, Issue 1159, 14 February 1874, Page 7

MR BRIGHT ON "FREE LAND."

Mr Bright has addressed the following letter to Mr G. W. Sanders, of Stockton-on-Tees, in reply to an enquiry from that gentleman as to the meaning of the term " free land :"— " Rochdale, Nov. 2, 1573. "Dear Sir — I have often explainod in my speeches what is intended by the term ' free land. It means the abolition of the law of I primogeniture, and the limitation of the j systems of entails and settlements, so that i 'life interests' may be for tho most part gnt rid of, and a real ownership substituted for them. It means also that it shall be as easy to buy or sell laud as to buy or sell a ship, , or. at least, as easy as it is in Australia, and in many or iv all the States of the American Union. It moans that no legal encouragement shall be given to great estates and great farms," and that tho natural forcos of accumulation and dispersion shall have free play, as they have with regard to ships, and shares, and machinery, and stock-in-trade, and money. It means, tpo, that while the lawyer shall bo well paid for his work, unnecessary work shall not be made for him, involving an enor mows tax on all transactions in connection with the purchase and sale of lands and houses. A thorough reform in this matter would completo, with regard to land, the great work accomplished by tho Anti-Corn Law Leaguo in 1848. Ib would give an endloss renown to tho Minister who made it, and would bless to an incalculable extent all classes connected with and dependent on honest industry.— l am respectfully yours, "John Bhigijt. (t UxQ, \7, Sanders, BfcooktQfl-on.Te.ee,"