FARM RENTS IN ENGLAND.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 116, 25 January 1879, Page 3

FARM RENTS IN ENGLAND.

(From the ' New Zealander.') There is a paragraph in the 'WairarapaStandard'of Saturday last which deserves a wider application than what our contemporary gives it. It reads ns follows :—" If it is true that the Hon J. Martin intends to out up his newly purchased estate into small farm sections, we would suggest to hi in the desirability of making the fact well known in England, as there would be hundreds of tenant farmers there who would be only too glad to avail themselves of the opportunity of securing a home for themselves and an independency- for their children, which would in that case be afforded them." Our contention is that if such action is prudent and far-seeing on the part of an individual member of the community, it is equally prudent for the Government to adopt a similar course of action, remembering the " many lands and fertile," in this island that will speedily be thrown upon the market. Their character, and the dates and conditions of their sale, should obtain a wide publicity. By the arrival of the Suez mail we are in possession of one week's later English news, and we find that so farftom the tenant farmer's discontent being removed in Great Britain, it is on the increase, iren bang unwilling to employ their capital in farming operaii >ns, with the interest they can obtain under their present land tenure. A great deal of apprehension is also felt by the landlord class at what appears the inevitable decline in rents, and the difficulty experienced in obtaining tenants, even at a reduced rental. Some ten years since, when farms wei*e vacant, or leases were about to expire, the competition for possession was keen, and applicants were only anxious to obtain possession, the question of profit not often entering into their consideration. This state of affairs has noiy considerably changed, and the ' Spectator ' of November 9th says : "The consequence is a readiness to throw up farms, which tin's Michaelmas has in many districts distinctly frightened landlords. Every day we hoar new instances of farms surrendered, sometimes by the dozen in a single district, for which there is no application. One landlord tells yon his three biggest farms are 'on hand.' Another writes that he has fourteen farms to let. A third states, and states accurately, that round his house, within riding distance, he has the choice of eighteen farms, with one year's occupancy rent-free, if hev.ii! only take them and recover them. Thes"! are mere instances, but they recur until they reasonably a!a:in the landlords. They do tv:l want to take into their own hands f;;rm upon farm, and begin the old Latifunda syctmi,—working huge b ! oeks of bind through hired servants only. It is not their trade, they do not understand the necessary economies, and they dread defiling with the cleverest and most roguish class in the country, the bailiffwithout masters. They would ra'her, if •wed off, consent to a. mrcb-rate reduction of rent ;' but that in the first place they would fret all the poorer landlords around them, next, that ihe\ ? fear mod.er.ite reductions will not do. Ten per cent, of rent is to the farmer only a pound a-week on a four hundred-acre farm, that is, a saving of one man and a boy, hut is to the landlord equivalent to an income-tax of two shillings in the pound. As to the twenty per cent, reduction, or twentyfive per cent., that for the lesser landlords would, as the 'Times' says, be equivalent to a social revolution. Every county fiimilv would lose a fourth of its resources at a blow, and just that fourth which, being surplus, makes life pleasant and easy. Naturally men so situated hesitate, and grow uneasy, and look at Government to see if it cannot help, and cast about for any plans which may avert so heavy a en] unity." It appears to us that the state of affairs in Great Britain could be manipulated to our own great good. No time in our opinion should be lost in seeking to induce men, who are accustomed to farming pursuits and possession of capital, to cast in their lot with us. Action could be taken at once through the Ager.t General.

HOW HE SENT THEM HOME. The keeper of a large beer garden in this city was one night put to his wits' ends to keep up the well-earned reputation of the establishment for good order. Two young men entered arm-in-ann, their noisy manner showing that they had been around a little too mud). Approaching the pair Mr. E. shook Lands with each of them and said,, '"'See here, John, will you please excuse me for a moment. 1 want to talk with Jake." John consented, and Jake and Mr. R. retired to a short distance from him, whfii Mr. R.. addressing Jake, said, *' Sec here, now. Jake, you arc a gentleman and a friend of mine : now, John is a little ' off ' to-night and you see the style of people here, and won't you do mi; the favour of taking him home ?" Jake replied, " Mr. 11., John is ugly j-oinetiines, and he might get angry with me if 1 propose to him to go Lome before we get .->nmo beer." R. then sail, " Oh, well. I. will fix that all right; v-ou stav right here and 1 will go and ?<oc John."' Going to where John was Mr. It. said, " John, you are fci gentleman, and a friend of mine. Jake is a little ' off' to-night, and won't vou do me a great favour by taking him home ?" John straightened up and said, " Mr. R. : y<iu are right ; I'll do it." Mr. R. said. " Then go ahead and call and see mo again." The two friends then h"»;'reached each other, each of them the other to go home, and

left together, each happy in the thought that he was do'ng a great kindness to Lis com nan ion.-—Rochester Union.