THE BEST SYSTEM OF LAND TENURE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1978, 12 March 1885, Page 3

THE BEST SYSTEM OF LAND TENURE.

Till- London Dialectical Society, at a meeting piesided mt'i by Sit (i Campbell, AI.P., theothn day, discus d the question, ' What is the Best S> stem of Land Teniue .' Dr. J. 15. Claik, who iiitioduced the subject by reading a papei tliuicon, iiiaintained that such a system ot tenure was wanted as would give the fullest and most complete security to the cultnator, in older that he might ha\o every inducement to put .ill his capital into the soil, and gt t out of it the utmost that capital and skilled labour could diaw from it. He held that, consistent with this principle, the best foim of teniue was not peasant proprietoiMiip, because all fields were not of equal quality and \alue; and although a peasant proprietary might be the best solution of the teniue aspect of the subject, there could be no propel settlement of the question without considenng the fiscal aspect as well. The objection was that such a system gave to a class of the community 'economic rent,' to which it had no more right than the present landlord's could claim. Economic rent he took to be the puce paid for the monopoly of the soil or of bite, and he held that only those who incited value ought to have a light to it. The value was created, not by a peasant piopnetor nor by a landowner m town", buc by the community as a whole, who, therefore, ought to enjoy it. The best foi m of tenure was home modification of the old Roman system of emphyteusis— piactically 'thu three F'*.' The emphyteuta, or tenant, held his land oil a continuous teniue at a fKed rent; all inipiovements wee legally the propel ty of the tenant, and he could sell his interest duriner hi-, life or will it away at his death. This system existed .it the present day in parts of Italy, Geimany, Holland, France and Portugal, and it w .is also the basis of the old system of English copyhold. Applied to this country, it should be dm. ible or perpetual, subject to compliance with the conditions— (l) That a fail lent should ha paid; and (2) That the land should be cultnated. For the better accomplishment of this purpose, the State, either thiough County Boaid-. oi Councils, or a National Comt, should determine that all the powers posessed by the present owners as to the contiol of the land should be vested in the State, and that the State should let it on the conditions named. Dr Claik intimated that a bill was being dratted accouling to theso views, which went fuithci than the Irish Land Act. The latter was passed on the theoiy that the landlords should have a ceita.ni amount of contiol, wheieas the proposed bill would take all control from them, so tint thi'y would ineicly bo in the position of lent leceivers. A discussion followed. Several speakeis agreed that it was the duty of the State to protect small oceupieis like the Scotch crofters, but a system like ' the thiee fV was not required for huge capitalists. r lh ; nationalisation of the land was regaided as impracticable, as the adoption of such a system would entail an enormous compensation, which would be out of the question. The chairman mentioned the alteration of the Lmd Law as one of the most pionnnent questions for a leformed Pallianient, and he expi eased his opinion that neglect on the part of the Government to deal with it would lead to a revolution. He was m favour of the land being held by the cultivator of the soil, he appro\ed of ' tho thiee f's,' and thought a peasant piopnetoiy most desirable. i)r Clark, in his leply, explained that he argued rather for a vanable tenant than for a fixed rent, and that tho land should be nationalised m the sense of the State determining how the laud bhould be used.

The Land Question in Walks. — Mr Parnell, M.P., Mr O'Connor Power, M.P., and Mr Justin M'Carthy M.P., have replied to representations addressed to them bearing upon a proposed Land Hill for Wales. Mr Parnell wiites :—: — ' In my judgment, nothing less than an act containing the provisions of the Irish Land Act will be of any use to the tenant-farmers of England, Wales, and Scotland ; and, in addition, bucli act should secure that rent shall not be chargeable on tenant's improvements, which the Irish Land Act does not secure.' Mr O'Conner Power remaiks that if the Welsh tenantry suffer from evils such as afflicted the Ii ish before the passing of tho Land Act ot 1882, ho sees no reason why they should be excluded from the benefit of a similar measure. Mr Justin M'Carthy takes it for granted that an adjustment for rents and tenant-right, with compensation of unexhausted improvements, must be among the provisions of a Land Act for Wales. 'We have,' he further remarks, ' had much trouble in Ireland owing to the cumbrous machinery of the Court for fixing rates, which causes indefinite delay, and goes far to neutralise the advantages of the Land Act. Also the purchase clauses have not worked in Ireland, owing to tho lack of machinery and resources.' Pleuro-Pnkdmonia About Nkw York. — The Washington Commissioner of Agriculture, on the 18th ult., transmitted to the House a report on the suppression of diseases among domestic animals. The result of an inspection made shows that 561 cattle afflicted with pleuro- pneumonia were found in and about New York City and the disti ict of Columbia. Many danymen in all tho large cities when* the disease exists have become expert in the management of cattle. As soon as the first symptoms of the disease are seen the animals arc sent to the slaughter house. The exactnumher of infected cattle cannot be determined. The report states that this disease was taken into Illinois and Kentucky in the past summer from a herd in Ohio ; it had been cairied into Ohio by cattle purchased in the vicinity of Baltimore. Yes ! It is certainly true. Ask any of your friend* who have purchased there. Garlick and Cranwell have numerous unasked for and very favourable commendations from country cust raers on their cxc i lleot packing of Furni ture, Crockery, and Glass, &c. Ladies any gentlemen about to furnish should remember that Garlick and Cranwell's is tub Cheap Furnishing Warehouse of Auckland. Furniture to suit all classes ; also Carpers, Floor Cloths and all House Necessaries. If your new house is nearly finished, or, you are going to get married, visit Garlick and Cranwell, Queen-street and Lome-street, Auckland. Intending purchaser! can have a catalogue ten free.