THE LAND QUESTION IN SCOTLAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XI, Issue 29, 16 November 1883, Page 23

THE LAND QUESTION IN SCOTLAND.

(Glasgow correspondence of the Nation.) • , 1 ■ Many of the most loud-mouthed apostles T>f the glib doctrine thata landlord can " do as he likes with his own " — meaning, of course, the land — are gradually abandoning that absurd contention, and beginning |to utter significant warnings to American millionaires and Nimrods ! «' Of course," observes the " pious editor "of the Radical (slo) Mail," it is not possible that such men can care anything for the interests either of the resident peasantry or of the tourists." To Irishmen the Mail's new found zeal for peasant's interests suggests unpleasant reflections. Before the influence of the Land League teachings began to be felt outside of Ireland— nay, years before the establishment of that organisation was so much as thought of, the vast tract of country between Aberdeen and Oban, now under deer had been ruthlessly cleared of its " resident peasantry " to make room for the " interests " of sheep ; and not one word of protest was heard m all broad Scot'and from either platform or press or pulpit. But during this season " toilworn professional men, and botanists, and geologists,' and such-like superior folks who had come to the Highlands to seek health and enjoyment have, quite as unceremoniously as the resident peasantry of former times, been bundled off his lands by Mr. Winans, and threatened with legal pains and penalties lor disturbing his deer. It is consoling to be assured by such a cautious authority as the Mail, that « every right-thinking person, however, will have no hesitation in coming to the conclusion, that an amusement so completely at variance with the rights and natural feelings >of the community (as deer preserving), which requires the destruction of houses, roads, and ♦enclosures, and the banishment of the human inhabitants from the scene, stands self-condenaned and ought to be suppressed by the strong arm of the law." And, again :— " Ibe disclosures recently made before the Royal Commission in every district of the Highlands respecting the mode in which farms and crofts alike have been swallowed up in deer -forests, and the rights of the people trampled underfoot by imperious Highland lairds, demands the prompt interposition of the legislature ; and the treatment which English visitors have received this season at the hands of hunters of deer will, no doubt, contribute not a little to secure the overthrow of a system so injurious to the best interests of the country," The working farmers of Caithnesshire are adopting the only means by which reforms can possibly be attained—perfect organisation amongst themselves and the purification of the Parliamentary representation. They were not too well pleased with the hastilyformed judgment of Mr. M'Farlane, M.P. for 'Carlow County, at a recent conference with them. The hon. gentleman declared at the outset that he came to receive instructions, and shortly afterwards put himself forward as their instructor. He counselled them not to ask for impossibilities, but to agitate for what was within range of probability, and in a very off-hand reference to the nationalisation of the land, he dismissed it as " a millenial idea." Dr. G, B. Clark, of London, the author of an able treatise on the nationalisation of the land, will contest CaithDesshire against the present landlord representative, Sir Tollemache Sinclair. Two- thirds ot the constituency are working farmers as distinguished from " phirahsts " or " grabbers." ■