THE BRITISH LAND PROBLEM

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3462, 14 October 1913, Page 5

THE BRITISH LAND PROBLEM

OPENING OF MR, LLOYDGEORGE’S CAMPAIGN.

LANDLORDS’ DOMINION STRONC-

LY CONDEMNED.

RATING SYSTEM MUST BE

CHANGED

[ UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT] LONDON, Oct. 12. Mr Lloyd-George (Chancellor of the Exchequer), addressed 2500 delegates of the Micuand and Eastern Oounties Liberal Federations at the Bedford Skating R.uk, the Earl of Beauchamp presiding. He spoke for 160 minutes.

He briefly referred to Home Rule and disestablishment. He said that any undisposed of difficulties of these questions could easily bo adjusted, by goodwill. Through the absence of goodwill, existing difficulties were exaggerated and imaginary difficulties created.

The Chancellor said the question in regard to land entered every necessity of life. Most of the land in Great Britain was held by very few, and landlordism was Britain’s greatest and least-controlled monopoly. Millions were driven out of Ireland by legal process. He did not attack landlords individually or as a class, but said that no human being could be entrusted with such sweeping powers without abuse, oppression, and injustice arising. The Government meant to deprive landlords of such temptation. The present land system had been a ghastly failure. The percentage of cultivated land and of agricultural laborers’ wages was lower than elsewhere. He wanted a man’s wage for a man's work. Ninety per cent, received wages below a scale that was necessary to keep their families out of the workhouse. Far the worst pay was in districts such as those where the landlords’ sway was greatest. The housing was atrocious. A worker formerly had a. stake in the country, but a landlords’ Parliament had annexed Naboth’s vineyard. The Small Holdings Act had met with much success, but the workers had not profited to the extent the Government expected. One reason was the hostilitv of county councils. The chief reason was the prohibitive price of land. Men bought land for social position, power, and sporting purposes, which had nothing to do with its intrinsic value. Until monopoly and value were placed on a proper basis small holdings would not be a success. The country possessed millions of acres, of uncultivated land, whilst it was buying millions of pounds worth of food abroad. No country gave up so much land to sport. ~ Even cultivated land was damaged by sportsmen. It was no use to say that file landowner paid compensation. Valuable food was destroyed, while hundreds of thousands of people had not enough. Farmers must be protected, as it was scandalous the way rents were raised on farmers’ improvements. The Government’s policy was to reduce game lands by two-thirds and give the cultivator greater security. This might even end the landlords’ dominion, but the country should choose between the power of landlords and the prosperity of the laborer. The present land system neutralised the country’s natural advantages, and handicapped trade in every direction. The . migration towmvards depressed w« ges and contributed to the growth of slums. Before the Government considered the question of purchase, involving a heavy burden on the community, they must place land monopoly on a fair business footing. They must secuie the laborer a living wage, a decent house, a piece of land, and give him a nrespect of becoming a small holder. They must provide the cultivator with expert instructors, and cheapen and improve the means of transport. At present certain railways were giving undue preference to foreign produce. The Government must change the system of rating and provide the State with power to acquire land, and deal with owners unable to properly cultivate the soil, and the State’s aid must be invoked financially to carry out the scheme. Addressing a second meeting AU Llovd George said that if the Tories were prepared to settle the land problems by agreement the Liberals were prepared to work with them,' but there must be a real settlement.