ENGLISH FARMERS' UNREST.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 13, 15 January 1914, Page 4

ENGLISH FARMERS' UNREST.

Writing on the new land law campaign ! in England tbjj London correspondent ! of the Sydney Telegraph says that j everywhere tenant farmers are in a

state of decided unrest, and much more inclined to listen to offers from the Dominions than hitherto. "Without question," said a large Gloucestershire tenant farmer "the old relationship between tenant and landlord in this country is about to he destroyed. Personally, 1 am not hopeful that the chance will do much good, but certain-

ly we are in for a different business relationship. Thousands of ns who have hitherto refused to think of emigration will now do so. A break is to be made, and naturally a man in my position wjll consider all his chances.! The one thing which 1 am sure will come out of this upset is that farm' laborers will be paid higher wages. 1 do not think for a moment that Mr Lloyd George, with all his cleverness, will pass this increased expense on to the landlord. Landlords are too powerful to he beaten by the Govern l ment. It is the farmers who will suffer all the time." This (the correspondent referred to says) is practically the view everywhere expressed, and already the English tenant farmer is at his wits' end to pay his way. Not one British farmer in a hundred makes money. It is a life-long struggle to keep capital intact. The farmer quoted, has £3OOO invested in his tenant farm. After reckoning his own labor at the low rate of £IOO a year, and paying for his help,'he has not, over many years, averaged quite 3 per cent. I on his money. And his case is typical, i There is everywhere a. belief that even if Mr Lloyd George should succeed in setting up machinery to fix fair rents and give proper tenant rights, the improvements from- the change would not come for many years. Then thousands of farmers, despite their stern struggle, shrink from open conflict with their landlords. To the Australian this may appear strange, but in Britain where farms have often been held by the same families for generations, it is a consideration to he reckoned with. Sooner than be parties to compelling better conditions by the aid of the law, many farmers would prefer to quit. Hence the strong hope that large numbers of British farmers will he induced to turn their attention to the better agricultural prospects of Australasia.