STATE CONTROL

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 45, 23 October 1913, Page 5

STATE CONTROL

THE LAND FOR THE PEOPLE LLOYD CEORCES CAMPAICN. [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [United Press Association.] (.Received 9.40 a.m.) London, October 22.

Lord Strachie presided when Mr Lloyd George addressed an enthusiastic audience of 3000 at Swindon in continuation of his land campaign. The first essential step, he said, was to assume complete control of the monopoly of land by placing it under State direction. The Cabinet unanimously proposed to replace the Board of Agriculture by a Minister of Land dealing with the users of land in town and country, and also the registrations of title and transfer, besides valuation. The Government found that the large farms were fairly rented on the whole, hut it was not so with the small ones. They proposed to enable the small farmers to complain before commissioners if existing rent was excessive, and to empower the commissioners to reduce it. Moreover, the rent now reasonable might become unreasonable in the event of a statutory increase of labourers’ wages. Finally, a temporary lessening of the rent might ho sought in the event of great agricultural depression, and land that could not lie cultivated would he used for afforestation. The Minister of Land might he instructed to acquire at a reasonable price derelict and neglected tracts, and improve and equip them with a view to their utmost cultivation.