PROFESSOR BLACKIE ON LAND LAWS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1079, 6 March 1883, Page 1

PROFESSOR BLACKIE ON LAND LAWS.

Speaking at the gathering of the Highlanders in Paisley the other day, Professor Blackie said ho hoped they would make the reform of the land laws their watchword for the next two or three years The movement had begun. They would meet with tremendous opposition from the aristocracy and plutocracy, which would both combine to crush the peasantry of the Highlands. The land laws of this country were made by the aristocracy in times when they had the power in their own hands, and therefore they naturally made use of that power in their own interest, making the strong stronger, instead of the weak, by the laws which they made. Whenever the rich did anything in this country against poor people, it was always ‘ law’ that was on their side. The law was made for the strong by the strong, but now they must have laws made :n a contrary direction. The Professor closed his remarks by proposing that a Government Commission should be appointed specially to enquire and report on the agricultural and economical condition of the rural population of the Scottish Highlands ; to give a historical review of the progress of depopulation in these districts from the year 1745 to the present*; to show under what influences, whether legitimate or illegitimate, whether forced or voluntarily, such depopulation took place ; specially also to report on the dietricts where, by the wise care, patriotic kindness, and economic wisdom of the proprietors, a natural and healthy population has been maintained ; further in what districts over population may exist, and what measures, whether of emigration or otherwise, might best be employed for reducing the population to a number consistent with social comfort and well-being,