Jane 1895.] EXTKACTS FEOM DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR 65 



KEPORTS. 



on thousands of acres of land and the gradual migration of 

 labourers into towns. Attention was drawn to the constant 

 shrinking of French exports, and compensation was demanded 

 ofthe State in the shape of measures for opening up com- 

 pletely the markets at home. Reforms in the system of agri- 

 cultural credit and insurance were advocated, and a wish was 

 expressed that an income-tax should be substituted for the 

 land-tax ; reductions, too, were asked for in the amount of excise 

 charged on wine and cider. 



Sir J. Crowe remarks that as regards the gradual migration 

 of labourers into towns there is no doubt that Paris and other 

 large cities attract the unemployed of the country districts. 

 But facilities of locomotion are now so great that a regular ebb 

 and flow of labour is established. When work is scant in Paris, 

 country hands take their departure in large numbers and return 

 to their villages, where they are better able to eke out a livelihood 

 than elsewhere. But there are trades carried on in the capital 

 which are subject to regular interruptions. Masons and car- 

 penters, and men in auxiliary trades, return from cities to the 

 country in the cold season, and the population of the country is 

 thus almost as fluctuating as that of towns. 



Apparently, no recent statistics exist to show that deprecia- 

 tion of property is progressing in France. No doubt farmers 

 are still being evicted, as they refuse to renew leases on old 

 terms, but farmers are not so numerous as they are in other 

 countries. In 1882, the surface cultivated by owners was 

 47,869,000 acres, as agaimt 24,700,000 acres cultivated by 

 farmers under leases. Since 1882 the number of farms has 

 probably diminished. Farmers in 1882 were under 200,000 

 in number, a very much smaller class than the tillers of their 

 own soil. Evictions would only show that landlords are still 

 desirous of getting rid of tenants from whom they can no longer 

 expect to get sufficient rent. As to the price of land, Sir J. 

 Crowe has been informed, on excellent authority, that the lowest 

 -ebb has been reached, a turn of the tide is noticeable, some 

 tendency towards progress is apparent, and the country is 

 gradually beginning to recover. For years, property has been 

 losing the value which it had half a century ago. Incomes 

 have been reduced in the same ratio as they had previously 

 increased. It is now felt by economists that where money has 

 become so cheap that gold investments yield only 2^ to 3 per 

 cent, it would be vain to hope that land will not follow the same 

 course. Gold has depreciated ; land has done the same, and its 

 produce has followed the fortunes of land and capital. 



The number of small holdings paying from 23 c. to 50 fr. 

 (24d to 21) a year to the State is 12,000,000, while 

 2,000,000 holdings pay over 50 fr. (2^.). The fact that there are 

 but 14,000 owners of landed property in France taxed for their 

 land at the rate of 1,000 fr. (40^.) and upwards appears to 



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