IMPERIAL POLITICS

Otago Witness, Issue 3111, 29 October 1913, Page 29

IMPERIAL POLITICS

THE LAND PROBLEM. LONDON, October 22. Mr Lloyd George’s second meeting at Swindon on the Land Question was presided over by Lord Strachie, and attended by 3000 persons. The Chancellor of the Excheuqer, in the course of his address, said that the first essential step was to assume complete control of the existing mono; oly in land by placing the lands of the Kingdom under the direction of the State. The Cabinet had unanimously agreed to propose that the present Board of Agriculture should be replaced by a responsible Minister of Lands, who would deal with the users of land, both in town and country, and with the registration of titles and their transfer, and who would have the control of all questions relating to land valuation. The Government had found that on the whole the large farms were fairly rented, but not so in the case of the small farms. It therefore proposed to enable small farmers to make complaint before commissioners, and if the existing rent was found to be excessive to empower the commissioners to reduce it. Moreover, a rent that was now reasonable might become unreasonable in the event of a statutory increase in the labourers’ wages. A temporary lessening of the rent might also be sought in the event of a great agricultural depression. could not be cultivated would be used for afforestation. The Minister of Lands might be instructed to acquire at a reasonable price derelict and neglected tracts, and to improve and equip them, with a view to their utmost cultivation being ensured. Mr Lloyd George said the valuation of land would be completed in 1915. The machinery for the valuation would or handed over to the Ministry of Lands. If a small holder got notice to quit, the Minister would send an official to inquire, and if he was told that the small holder voted for a Radical or went to the Method ist Church he would say that that was not an adequate cause. If the tenant was a bad farmer it was right that he should be dispossessed in the interests of the community ; otherwise he would be entitled to compensation. In this way the tenants would get security of tenure. There were 8.000,000 acres capable of afforestation, and the planting of trees would bring exposed lands into cultivation. The men of the Highlands and glens gave Britain regiments who had arrested Napoleon, but the men of the glens swept away, the crofts were destroyed, and the whole place was trodden by deer. It was stupid to allow tens of thousands of robust workmen to go to the wilds of Canada when much of the land at Home was in its present condition. The country hemorrhage must be stopped. If the farmers were unable to pay the minimum wage a commission would fix abatements of refits. There was a deficiency of 120,000 cottages. The Government was going to use its insurance reserve funds, giving- the agricultural labourers the first cut off that joint. The commissioners would fix the price, thus getting the land at a fair price. Every house would have a. vegetable garden The resources of the State were quite adequate to build country cottages for every one. It was to the interest of the country to induce everyone to live outside the towns, and such methods would secure a Motherland in which the children wou'd rejoice and the Empire to the ends of the earth would be proud. In the evening Mr Lloyd George addressed 4000 people. He said the pro gramme was not unauthorised, and that he spoke on behalf of the Prime Minister and the whole Cabinet. Their opponents were already foaming, and in a few weeks there would not be enough strait waistcoats in England for them. October 2-5. The Conservative papers sum up Mr Lloyd George’s policy as the inauguration of a golden age for agriculture by the creation of a new horde of officials and an appeal to cupidity and class envy. The Times editorially affirms that Mr Lloyd George’s speech on land reforms resembles a man who continues to dig in his garden while his house is bursting into flames. At a time when Ireland draws steadily nearer to civil war any Minister who is deliberately concentrating public attention on rural questions must be bemused. October 24. The Marquis of Lincolnshire (formerly Lord Carrington), in an interview, stated that ho heartily approved of Mr Lloyd George’s proposals, many of which had been the rule on his estate for years. Mr Jesso Collings, in an interview, contrasted Mr Lloyd George’s apparent unwillingness to allow farmers or labourers to become owners by State aid with the principle of ownership adopted by the Unionists. The latter unfortunately d’d not possess a leader with the Chancellor's fighting quality or they would carry the day against, Mr Lloyd George’s rotten proposals. October 26. Earl De La Warr contends that the present land system would not be tolerated in any other country. The business cities, he says, are overcrowded with starving families, while the land lies idle through the absence of labour, which is lacking through want of housing. This is caused by the absence of capital. The tenant farmer has no security of tenure. Equally important is land development, which is now heavily hampered by expensive legal processes. Earl De La Warr adds that it Mr Lloyd

George realises his reform he will accomplish one of the greatest tasks accomplished by any Minister in the realm. Earl Crewe, speaking at Royston, said that Lord Lansdowne’s proposals for State advances to enable tenants to purchase land could not be entertained, as they were calculated to pledge the country’s credit for a vast number of millions, besides causing an enormous rise in values. LONDON, October 26. Mr Buxton, speaking at Leicester, said the railway question had been before the Board of Trade for some time. His experience showed that all was not well between the railways, the traders, and the community. The friction was increasing, while the great extension of amalgamations and working agreements had altered the whole position affecting competition and monopoly. The commission would provide authoritative information for further steps.