THE POOR DUKES

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12709, 30 November 1909, Page 1

THE POOR DUKES

TJic Duke of IW.ch-ueh. who owns something like half a million acres, six or Vvr-n London and country "s<'US.'' and nrt treasures rsiiinruvd to he worth not ler=s tlian halt a million of motifv, lias decided not to >'•- ih-,v his thive guinea subscription to tiie Nithsdale Football Club, in consequence of thf terrible financial burdens imposed on him by the Budget. Tins .same <luke not long ago reduceil the .-.Howancos lie mp.de to the aged deserving poor on his estsitcs by the amouiit they were entitled to receive under the Old Age Pension Aft.

Earl Powis, another unfortunate ; peer, owning over GO.OOO acres, has J discovered the Budget hits him so hard | in tho pocket that lie has decided to discontinue his contributions to sun- ( dry chanties. Oilier dukes and earls J have announced their intention to copy the noble example of these representatives of "our old nobility," which Lord John Manners besought the countrv to perpetuate even at the risk j of the'death of "wealth and com- , merce, laws and learning." Hut it : has reallv been left for the Duke ot Bedford, 'the owner of "a few lodginghouses in Bloomsbury," to reach the limit of ineptitude. The Duke is lord of rich domains Ln London, Devonshire, and elsewhere. From his tenants at and around Tavistock ho enjoys a rent roll of about £10,000 a year, and he contributes to the local rates about £250 a vear in respect of his property in tfiat locality. Now the duke'has a son, the Marquess -of, J_v.atosk, who will presently celebrate Ins twenty-first birthday. That event tho Duke designed to mark by inviting his tenants to a tea party and other rare delights common to coming of age I celebrations. Tiie tenants, /or their \ part, proposed to mark the auspicious I occasion by presenting the marquess ! with some complimentary gift in token of .their goodwill towards the future r Duke of Bedford. But Mr LloydGeorge' s . Budget has forced the duke to alter his plans. He has announced to his Talvistock tenants his sorrowful decision not to invite them to t ne birthday party, and on his son's behalf has declined the tenants' prospective present, for the. reason that "rapid changes warn us that neither owner nor tenant can hope to maintain the existing pleasant relations for another generation;"