Land Problems and National Welfare 



can be better invested by removing it from the 

 land and putting it into securities. This Hne 

 of action has also the further advantage 

 that it enables the landowner to place at all 

 events a portion of his capital beyond the reach 

 of socialistic legislation. As I have said before, 

 I sincerely hope that we shall always see land- 

 lords and tenants in England ; but at the same 

 time it is essential that machinery should exist 

 whereby the tenant would be able to purchase 

 his own holding should it be to his advantage 

 to do so. 



Much capital is being made by certain poli- 

 ticians of the Land Holdings Act of 1907. 

 Undoubtedly this has some good features, and 

 I have not heard of its affecting adversely 

 the relations of landowner and tenant, as some 

 feared it would do. It secures to the farmer 

 great latitude of cropping, or at least it is sup- 

 posed to do so ; but in this respect I fear the 

 Act is somewhat nullified by the narrow- 

 mindedness and want of elasticity on the part 

 of many of our valuers. 



With this increased freedom of cropping a 

 much greater degree of inspection on the part 

 of the land agent will be required to see that 

 the land is not let down ; but this will be 

 no drawback. It is to be regretted that the Act 

 does little to protect the small farmer from 

 excessive damage by game. It provides, in the 



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