Bridlington and Quay Gazette. — 1913-10-17 (Bridlington, Humberside, England)

THE LAND QUESTION.  Mr. Lloyd George's eagerly anticipated speech at Bedford, has lifted the land question into national prominence. Though in recent times England has been very largely transformed from an agricultural into a manufacturing country, yet the land is at the very base of our prosperity; and both political partie recognise that measures must be taken for regenerating the agricultural industry. -It does not matter much by what motives reforms are guided so long as it is recognised that there is urgent need for colonising rural Britian assisting ite staple industry and giving those who toil on the land an opportunity to enjoy the blessings of life.  For years, land -has been going out of cultivation, and the rural population has been declining. To-day the men employed on the land is the Chancellor has reminded us, number but a million and a half, whereas fifty years ago, when the population was much less, they totalled 2,132,000. Whether the land system is responsible or not the percentage of land cultivated has steadily declined until now it is far lower than in any other country of Europe. In fifty years, the relative proportions of home grown wheat and. imported have become reversed. Whereas 75 per cent was home grown half a century ago, now it is only 28 per cent. Every thoughtful person admits that this decline in food production and in the agricultural' population, with the loss that it, entails of vigourt of happiness, of stability in our resources is a great calamity and menace. To suffer such a state of things to continue unchecked would be to allow the nation to commit suicide.  Upon this, there can be no difference of opinion, but when we come to consider the remedies a wide divergence speedily reveals itself. Mr. Lloyd Goerge has outlined the Liberal policy. The Unionist programme was disclosed in a report issued on September 17th last. Apart from the question of purchase they are in several respects strikingly similar. Rvral housing is an integral and important part of every land scheme. The evils produced by inadequate and insanitory houses must be removed. The wages of the labourers where they do not afford a decent standard of living must be raised. With this object, the extension of Trade Boards to argricultural districts, where wages are lowest is suggested. The Small Holdings Act has enabled many men to get back to the land but it has by no means accomplished what was expected. There must be an extension of facilities in this direction and the organisation of co-operative methods for the purchase and sale of roduce would help very considerably the farmer and smallland -holder.  The importance of cheaper meatus of transit cannot be over-rated,-neither can the readjustment of taxation, greater security of tenure. and progressive administration by the Board of Agr'oalture'. Agriculture is as much a national question as the Artny or the Navy. It is as necessary to put it on a sound basis as it is to maintain an efficient fleet. For the individual and collective well-bcitig of the -British people it it; of paramount importance to restore our oldest and greatest industry. Unfortunately it looks like being made the shuttlectick of contending parties, but out of the controversy it is to be hoped that 'something practical will emerge for the regeneration of agriculture and the countryside.