THE ADVANTAGE OF SMALL FREEHOLDS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2682, 11 December 1909, Page 6

THE ADVANTAGE OF SMALL FREEHOLDS.

MR/ CHAMBERLAIN ON AGRICULTURAL REFORM. If Mr Chamberlain Avere still in the fighting rank, his letter to Mr. Jesse Codings, on agricultural reform might, says the English “Spectator,” be the beginning of 2. very important neiv political movement. Ini this letter he says : —“\Vhile I still think that tariff reform might be the salvation of the inhabitants of.the towns, agricultural reform, leading to the creation of a peasant/ in the rural districts; is nebess'ary' for tlie agricultural laborer, and is, indeed, the only plan by which the problems affecting hifh chiefly can he properly dealt with.” This is a very emphatic declar- • ation, like most of Mr Chamberlain s declarations of policy, and if Jiterally interpreted might even involve the application to England and Scotland of recent Irish land legislation. That prospect alone is sufficient to give one 'pause, for Ireland has already absorbed, or .shortly Ayill absorb, some £20,000 000 of British capital', arid on a similar basis probably £2,000,000,000 would be required to create a peasant Proprietary in England arid Scotland. One. creation .of a peasant.. 'proprietorship would be tp some extent , a barrier against socialism. Socialists themselves and their Radical allies, have fully realised this fact,, and recent Liberal legislation with regard to .he land has all been in the direction of encouraging tenancy rather than ownership. The peculiar advantage o a small freehold, as contrasted with a small tendency, is, that it creates* sense of proprietorship. VJ owns land becomes a defender of ffie institution of private property, not because that institution is m reality more ‘.'valuable to.him .than it w .to his fellow-, citizens, but because he can more x.ffiar'lv see -its value. For. this reason ,«i country where a large portion o Qi e population consists of peasant propr - tors will never ’ accept socialistic theories: ■■■.._ .