THE PROSPECTS OF LANDLORDS IN SCOTLAND.

Waikato Times, Volume XX, Issue 1655, 13 February 1883, Page 3

THE PROSPECTS OF LANDLORDS IN SCOTLAND.

Unw.r this heading a correspondent, signing himself " Lender Water, ' writes to tlie N.li, Agriculturist : — Sib, — In your Just number ' Gala "Water' writes on 'Farming and Landlords' Prospect&.' He very justly say& that as far as the tenant fanner is concerned, his outlook is far from being a pleasant one, and with many, when capital has been lost and credit gone, his position is one of blank despair. The causes which have bi ought him to that position are not tar to seek. The seasons have had somewhat to do with it, along with the increase of labour and other expenses that the tenant fanner is called upon to face. These might be got over, if that beloved idol of the landloids, or rather, I may say, of the lawyerfactors, called rent) • was made easier One or other of these parties have been for the last thirty years screwing up rent under the baneful influence of the law of hypothec, until they have made the life of the farmer no better than a self's of the olden days, by giving them all this industry. Be that as it may, the question now is, What is going to become of many of our landlords ? Work they cannot, and they are ashamed to beg. The law of entail hangs like a millstone upon their. necks, arid yet they cannot ace it. They call out loudly, 'The family name must be kept up." ' What's in a name ' when the rent-roll is handed over to some insurance oflice, and the lordly mansions are left to decay and waste with the winter's storms, as many are doing just now ? It is a .sad lookout for our country. The labourers, the shopkeepers, and tliecultivatorsof the land are all at ; a standstill. Instead of the landlords taking the lead in the welfare of the country-hide, they aie nowlieie to l)e seen or heard tell of. The only creature that is to be seen that puts one in mind of the good olden days is a gamekeeper anil some underling, warning one th.it rent day is near at hand. How has all this come about ? There is but one answer to it. Many of 'our landlord class have been non-workeis, and have left their Wbiness in lawyer-fac-tors' harids,' 1 while they were filling up the cup of pleasure and that of extravagance in that 'fashionable city life, combined with not a little of hoise-iacing and gambling in all its different forms. Nonresident landlords have been the ruin of Ireland, so they will be the ruin of Scotland— with very many — if there isnota speedy alteiation of things. Lot us bo thankful all of that class are not alike, as we have noblemen who take a leading part in agriculture, and are ever willing and ready to give a helping hand to all those that are engaged in the welfare of their country ! The estates of these men will go on prospering, while the others will decay, and become yearly of less value.