“ A GHASTLY FAILURE.”

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 36, 13 October 1913, Page 5

“ A GHASTLY FAILURE.”

BRITAIN’S LAND SYSTEM, j MR LLOYD GEORGE’S VIEWS, j j [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] j [United Press (Association.] (Received 5.30 a.in.) Loudon, October 12. , Mr Lloyd-G eorge addresses 2ood| delegates of the homo, Midland, and Eastern Counties’ Liberal Federations. He spoke for two hours and forty minutes. He briefly referred to Home Rule. Ho said the disestablishment of any undisposed-of difficulties in these questions could easily bo adjusted by goodwill. The absence of goodwill in the existing difficulties were exaggerated and imaginary difficulties were created. The question of land entered every necessity of life. Most of the land in 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 c'ass, but a human being could uni Oe trusted with such sweeping powers without abuses of oppression and injustice arising. The Government meant to deprive landlords of such temptation. The present land system was a ghastly failure. The percentage, of • cultivated land and agricultural laborers’ wages were lower than elsewhere. They wanted a man’s wage for a man’s work. Ninety per cent, received wages below the scale necessary to keep a family on workhouse fare." The Verst paid districts were those where the landlords’ sway was the greatest. Tho housing was atrocious. The workers formerly had the country, but the landlords in Parliament had annexed the Naboth vineyard! The Small Holdings Act met with much success, but tho worker did not profit to the extent that the Government expected. One reason was the hostility of the county councils, hut the chief reason was the prohibitive price or land. Men bought land for social position, power, and sporting, which had nothing to do with

; intrinsic value; Until monopoly value was placed on a proper basis, small holdings would not be a success. The country possessed millions of acres of uncultivated land whilst they were'buying millions’ worth of food abroad. Xo country gave up so much land to sport. Even cultivated land was damaged by men’s use. They say that the landowner was paid compensation, but valuable food was destroyed while hundreds of thousands had not enough. Farmers must, bo protected. It was scandalous ..the rents raised on fanthers’approvements. The Government’s, policy was ito;reduce game lands by two-thirds and give the cultivator greater security. Thi.4 might even end the -landlords’ dominion, hut the country had to choose between power of the landlords and the prosperity of the laborer. The present land system neutralised the country’s natural advantages and handicapped trade in every direction., Migration town -wards depressed wages and contributed 'to the growth i-of slums. Before the Government considered the question of a purchase involving a heavy burden on the community, they must place the land monopolv on a fair business footing; they must secure the laborer a living wage, a decent house, a place on the land, and give him the prospect of becoming a small holder; they must provide the cultivator with expert instructors, and cheaper and improved transport. At present certain railways were giving undue preference to foreign produce. There should, he a change in the system of rating to provide the State with powers to acquire the land. A deal . ~>f the owners were unable to properly cultivate the soil, and the State must be worked financially to carry out the scheme.

Addressing a second meeting, Mr Lloyd George said that if the Tories were prepared to settle the laud problem by agreement, the Liberals would be prepared to work with them, but they must have a real settlement.