REFORM OF THE ENGLISH LAND LAWS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2748, 13 January 1882, Page 2

REFORM OF THE ENGLISH LAND LAWS.

The ‘‘ Times ” says the Prime Minister uttered a few pertinent words on the question, which is, perhaps, destined before long to be an? urgent one, of English land. Two circum--stances, says Mr Gladstone truly enough, have.co-operated to Wring this subject into its present prominence ; one is the resent legislation for Ireland, the other * is the agricultural depression in England, ~s It is satisfactory to find that these two circumstances are. sharply .separated in s Mr Gladstone's mind, as, indeed, they, ~-, are or ought to be in the minds of all reasonable men. It is not altogether a disadvantage that, as Mr Auberon - Herbert has lately pointed out,: tile’s opinions and principles of the Prime Minister do not always change with his policy. He has accepted and recommended legislation for Ireland which, shut for the exceptional and unfortunate * circumstances of that country, he would probablystill. be the first to condemn in the abstract. As similar circumstaridel" "■ do not exist in England, he is consistent in the best sense of the word in firmly refusing ' to apply the remedy whichj for the want of a better/ he has consented to, apply in Ireland. On this subject Mr| Gladstone speaks plainly'.l t The question of English lind is enough ; but it is riot governed by considerations which apply in Ireland,/,/ and we are content with Mr emphatic declaration that the Irish Land Act of last session was legislation' fdr Ireland alone, justified' only ,by circhm*' 1 stances which happily do not exist in , England .br . Scotland, and that, its ' principles- cannot be applied to these ,; parts of the realm.