MISCELLANEOUS.

Inangahua Times, Volume XI, Issue 1692, 16 April 1886, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS.

I 4 With reference to the bill introduced into the House of Commons by M. Bradlangb -o deprive any person of land which, being fit for cnltara. is not cultivated, Truth obser* cs :— « The hill is a Conservative one, for thescherae has been in operation in China for several thousand years In tbat ancient aud conservative country, i;,deed, the man who does not do fuU justice to the land that he owns or rents is regarded as a public enemy, and punished acco dingly. The Arclidencon of Hongkong, in • China : A History of Laws, Manners and Customs of the People,' says that there is a decree which enjoiug all landed proprietors to see that their estates are kept in high cultivation, and the penalty for a breach of this law is confiscation of the neglected property to tue Crown. In each Chinese village there is an agricultural board, composed of aged agricnlturists. This board insists on each farmer cultivatiug his laud ta the fullest extent If a fanner lm negligent, he is sent by the »»oard to a magistrate, who at once orders him to be flogged, the number of stripes being m proportion to the guautity of land that he has left uncultivated. The result of this excellent system is that land in China is far better cultivated than iv aay other part of the world."