been a gradual and a steady advance, without a single set-back in the value of agricultural land. The chief causes of this rise have been as follows:-Agriculture in Hungary has gradually emerged from the old-fashioned, unscientific method of culture into the niceties of calculated effects, which almost raise the cultivation of land to the level of the fine arts. By the aid of more scientific methods, the inherent value of land has been raised, not temporarily, but permanently, and this enhancement of land values is steadily spreading throughout the entire Kingdom. It is almost needless to add that the material prosperity and the accumulated wealth of our peasantry has improved in precisely the same ratio as the productiveness of the country. Neither must the important fact be overlooked that more than one-half of our population is solely dependent upon agriculture." Our Consul, in his report on the Rhenish Provinces of Germany, says: "Whereas agricultural land in the United Kingdom has been and is still sinking in value, in Germany it is throughout on the increase." It is the same with Denmark and other countries with small holdings. This result has been effected chiefly through the application of science and organisation both to agricultural production and distribution as well; co-operation in purchasing, in financial aid and in sale have succeeded in lessening the cost of production, increasing its amount and finally securing a higher price to the producer. The value of knowledge is realised by the producers in these countries, and they have themselves organised schools as in the case of the Danish High Schools. The basis on which this all rests is security of tenure and a possibility of the possession of a holding as a reward of thrift and frugality on the part of the labourers. A free system of land would provide not only the agricultural labourer and farmer, but the village shop-keeper and artisan with his holding, where he can vary his labours and utilise his spare time for himself and his family. Our villages would grow in size and numbers when small holdings have been established, and this to the great advantage of all who trade in them. To-day Scotland has enormous industrial wealth. The towns are growing by leaps and bounds; its markets are expanding daily, and yet its holdings reach but the miserable total of 79,000. The country population is decaying; their offspring are crowding into unwholesome slums. Thus it but too well illustrates what Goldsmith depicted when he wrote, from the bottom of his heart and with bitter knowledge, as we know, from his letter to Sir Joshua Reynolds : 66 "Ill fares the land to hastening ills a prey When we call to mind the attenuated and dwindling remnant of farmers and labourers left in Great Britain, and compare it with our claims to be an Imperial race who rule an Empire upon which the sun never sets, we may apply to the condition of our country the words used to describe the condition of the Roman Empire when the Gracchi introduced their reforms:-" It could be said abroad in the market of the Capital that the wild beasts had their lairs, but nothing was left to the burgesses save air and sunshine, and that those who were called the masters of the world had no longer a clod that they could call their own." Though the Gracchi were destroyed, their commission for the provision of small holdings was not at once set aside, just as the land distribution and the division of land among all the heirs established in France at the time of the French Revolution has never been set aside, though the form of Government has been changed so frequently. The Commission established at the instance of the Gracchi added in the six years of their existence 76,000 Burgesses to the Roll in Italy, or within a few hundred of the total number of agricultural holdings in Scotland, and staved off the decay which subsequently overtook the people of Italy and the Roman Empire. There is a remarkable analogy in the circumstances of the time between Rome and Scotland. It is curious that the remedy proposed for Scotland is so similar to that proposed by the Gracchi for Rome and partly carried into effect. It had been found in the case of Rome that the previous agrarian reforms had been ineffective because there was no permanent body to carry them out continuously, just as our Small Holdings Act has failed. An official commission was now appointed whose duty it was to counteract the continued decrease of the agricultural class by the continued establishment of new small holdings from the resources of the State. The tenure was not to be freehold, but inalienable, heritable leasehold, whose holders bound themselves to use the land for agriculture and to pay a moderate rent. We may hope that the Small Land Holders Bill, when it becomes law, may succeed in retaining the people on the land; may improve our agriculture, and lead to a greatly increased yield from our soil; may settle a hardy people throughout its whole rural area and restore the prosperity of our country towns and villages; while giving to the community as a whole a reserve of health and strength, as well as of strong toilers fitted to keep its industries supplied and able to maintain and extend the prosperity of our country. RECEIVED BY THE LIBERAL PUBLICATION DEPARTMENT, 42, PARLIAMENT STREET, S.W. 21/ Subscribers of One Guinea a year (January- (a) The monthly issues of the Liberal Magazine, as published on the 7th of each month. (b) At the end of the year the bound volume of the Liberal Magazine, on superior paper, and specially bound for Subscribers in half-cloth. (c) Copies of all Pamphlets, Leaflets, &c., and of the Liberal Calendar as issued. (d) At the end of the year the Pamphlets and Leaflets of the year, indexed, on superior paper, and specially bound for Subscribers in half-cloth. (e) The monthly issues of the Liberal Monthly. (ƒ) The Liberal Year Book, on superior paper, specially bound. 5/Subscribers of Five Shillings get the Liberal Magazine on the 7th of every month, post free. Subscriptions can begin at any time. 2/6 Subscribers of Half-a-Crown get copies of all Pamphlets and Leaflets (including the Liberal Calendar) as issued. Subscriptions are for the year, January to December. 1/ at any time. Subscribers of One Shilling get each month the AND THE EDUCATION BILL. A SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE RIGHT HON. Augustine Birrell, K.C., M.P., (President of the Board of Education), At BRISTOL, On NOVEMBER 13th, 1906. PUBLISHED BY THE LIBERAL PUBLICATION DEPARTMENT (In connection with the National Liberal Federation and the Liberal Central Association), 42, PARLIAMENT STREET, LONDON, S.W. PRICE ONE PENNY. |