SETTLING THE LAND.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 30, 4 February 1913, Page 2

SETTLING THE LAND.

THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY. STARTLING RESULTS FORECASTED. (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (United Press Association.) London, February 2. Mr Lloyd G eorge, speaking at the National Liberal Club, said that the foremost task in the near future was the regeneration of rural life, and the emancipation of the land from the paralysing grip of a rusty, effete and unprofitable system. The land ought to produce two-fold its present output. The remedy was not a tax on food, nor to crush the land by fresh taxation. Mr Lloyd George denied the 1 suggestion that the Government had conducted a clandestine enquiry into the private personal affairs of land owners with a view to making attacks on political opponents. The Government merely filled gaps that were incomplete in reports of previous, investigations. It was impossible to get unfettered evidence through official enquiries. The results of the enquiiy would soon bo published, and he foiecasted startling results. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, were employed on the land under conditions which ought to make a great empire hank its head with shame. The workers were not paid enough to keep their wives and children above semi-starvation. Land was held under conditions which would discourage capital and brains being invested in its development. Many rural workers wore driven to the towns. The depressing wages were creating unemployment. The remedy ought to cover both country and towns with labour. It was to everyone’s interest to see that the land was placed on a business footing. TRESS CRITICISM. London, February 1:' The Pall Mall Gazette says tha tMr Lloyd George’s speech confirms the postponement of his pet land piogramme pending the settlement of the Education Bill. * The Daily Mail interprets the speech as' dn indication of, differences with Mr'Asquith with respbet to next session’s programme. 7 London, February 3. The Daily News says that Mr Lloyd George will commence his platform campaign in the interests of land reform in March. Ho will seek a mandate from the next Parliament to secure for the’ agricultural' labourer £1 a week, if hfedeAsary, by Statute; see-' ondly, the labourer would be enabled to rent a <y>ttage and allotment independently of his employer. Mr Lloyd George 'proposes' thW'farming shewld bo placed on a scientific basis, with co-operative credit buying and selling, also large Urban rating'reforms.,