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CHAPTER XVI. 



LEGISLATIVE AID ; LAND LAWS, LAND TRANSFER, 

 EDUCATION, RAILWAY RATES, 



If the nationalisation of land is rejected as an impossible 

 plan ; if rural society is not to be reconstructed on the ruins 

 of the landlord system ; if farmers must combat foreign 

 competition with no other weapons than those of resolute, 

 capable men ; if Protection, condemned by history and dis- 

 credited by recent failure, is placed beyond the reach of 

 agriculturists ; if a reduction of tithes is scarcely less hope- 

 less because the reversion of the fund belongs to the com- 

 munity at large — what, it may be asked, becomes of the 

 Land Question ? It is reduced to its practical meaning ; 

 and that practical meaning varies, apart from peasant 

 proprietors, Protection, and abolition of tithes, with the 

 respective needs of owners, occupiers, and cultivators- 

 Landlords may possibly hint that production is hindered 

 because farmers have adopted extravagant standards of 

 living, and neglect their business. Farmers, perhaps, 

 blame landlords, and attribute depression to high rents, 

 restrictions upon cropping, land laws, and want of security 

 for tenants' improvements. Both will probably agree that 

 the seasons have been adverse, that land is exorbitantly 

 taxed, that railway rates favour foreign producers, that 

 hired labour is scarce, dear, and bad. The agricultural 

 labourer has his own special grievances. He complains 

 that there is no rung in the social ladder on which he can 



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