The Land System

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 19, 7 May 1903, Page 10

The Land System

In tho course of a speech at the National Liberal Club, London, on Lliu liish land question, Mr T W Russell said: The present system could only be got rid of by offering an inducement to the landlords to sell. A bridge ought to be built by the State, but that was a hard doctrine for the British taxpayeis, who had paid £230,000,000 for tho millionaires of South Africa. There was an historical and moral obligation on England m this matter. Where did the Irish land system come from ? It was not an Trish system, but an English system. England abolished the Irish land system, and thoie had ne\or since been an hour of tranquility or peace. England not only introduced tho system, but brought the men, planted them as its garnson, and they were permitted to call themselves the gai i isoii ; yet, although England had no further use for them — there was no function for them to perform — theie was nothing for them to do but to march out, and if they could not march out with all tho honors of war — bands pla.\ing and flags Hying — England might decently p,ro\ision them for the march. Tho Bntish taxpayers' hands had been in the Irishman's pockets for a hundred years, and, added Mr. Kusscll. 1 hope wo shall find more in \our pockets than you ha\e found m ours