THE LAND QUESTION AT HOME.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 21 May 1907, Page 3

THE LAND QUESTION AT HOME.

A measure is to be introduced into the British Parliament this month dealing with the English agrarian question in something like a progressive fashion. It will attempt to keep the country population on the soil by enabling the agricultural laborers to acquire small holdings. This is, of course, the ostensible object of the Acts already on the Statute Book, but the new Bill will attack the problem from an entirely new standpoint. The present Acts leave the onus of action with the local bodies, and if these do not move in the matter of settlement nothing can be done. But the new measure will set up a body of small holdings commissioners under the Board of Agriculture. It will be the duty of this body to receive appeals from the laborers direct, either singly or in groups. The commissioners will inquire into tin- local eirciim-tanees, and if the locil authorities wi.'l not, orcandeduO—B"lZ. IliVlll fl™ r. .rsvgVhllp.r. will step in jmd ; le t themselves. Very large powers are to be invested in them for taking land, either by lease or by compulsory purchase. An endeavor is to be made to avoid the costly machinery which has militated ajainst the successful administration of previous Acts, and the operation of acquiring land and fixing its value is to be made as simple as possible, lint the acquisition of lauds in Great Britain is always accompanied by heavy 'aw costs, and it is intended thai the commi-sinnei's shrill dra.w upon the Treasury For a. contribution towards tbese costs It is anticipated (hat the measure will bring about SomeI hing like a revolution in rural England. II will be an a.ttempt to make the land, as the British Premier said a year ago. "the treasure house of the nation." In Hie not very far future, if the ]!riti-h Government, continues to display enterprise of this character, we may expert fo find it bringing down a measure to settle small farmers on some of the I great private estates and to limit the

area which may he hold by the landlord class in one hand. It is only by such methods as these that tile Motherland can expect to sec th■■ listing prosperity of her rural population.