BEN LOMOND

Hokitika Guardian, 9 August 1930, Page 6

BEN LOMOND

OFFERED TO NATION. BURDEN OF DEATH DUTIES. LONDON, July 3. The Duke of Montrose has suggested that the Exchequer should take land in place of money for the payment of death duties. If the . Government agree to do so a beautiful area of country in Stirlingshire, will be preserved if or the benefit of the nation. If not the area will have to be sold. The estate of the Duke of Montrose has been in his family for four hundred years; it contains some of the most beautiful as well as some of the best agricultural land in Scotland. The islands of Loch Lomond, Ben Lomond and Inversmaid, beautiful and romantic places, have long, by the kindness oftheir owner, been open to the public. “Under the Finance Act of 1910,’’.the Duke points out, “provision was made for the’ Exchequer to accept land ;in payment erf death duties if the Commissioners of ,Revenue thought fit,- .aud-the lahd was for a.public purpose:. “’‘Now,-. I . maintain'., that' the Ben Lomond and/Inversmaid i areas as . a national park . .would -be ' a, public purpose, and that my Sintry farm, utilised as -a group of small holdings, and for afforestation, wou-ld/likewise constitute a national purpose. It only remains for the Government to be made clearly to understand that tlie people will not tolerate this Finance Act to be treated as a dead letter, when there is an opportunity to nationalise some land and utilise the same for the welfare of the people.’’

THREAT OF THE. JERRY BUILDER

“If, as Lord Passfield said in the House of Lords, there were no machinery for taking over and holding it, it is time that they made a beginning and created such a.Department. As la matter of fact, they could easily iorrh a National Trust for ; Scotland. ,

'■•“The reason why I am selling,” said the. Duke, “is to obtain money for the payihent of death.duties.’ Remove, the burden, and I do not want the.cash. If I'have to sell, I place no restrictions on the property at all- The jerrybuilder or anybody else can butcher tfi«. land as he likes. I have done, my best and can do no more.

“I am confident, however, that in 50 years’ time or less., when the country has been more opened up by motor traffic and is more gradually built upon,, there will be universal re-: gret that this historical and beautiful part of Scotland was not saved for the generous benefactor when ,t*ie opportunity occurred.” .. . >•. Apparently the Exchequer view is that" there are too many difficulties both legal and administrative- in I’tfic way of adopting. such a course. Land has__b.een; accepted, but only when it Ha’s been requirod; for ! sdme Government purpose. .: / ..