The farmer, Lord Lansdowne urged, should have proper security for
his improvements. As for the owners of land, any course of action which discouraged them from continuing to do what they have done for generations in the past, that is, to spend their capital courageously in the improvement of the land which belongs to them, should be avoided. Finally, he declared that "the whole question of rating requires to be re- considered and the land relieved from some of the burdens which now weigh with undue severity upon it." With this last statement we are of course in the heartiest accord. The upas tree which is poisoning our agriculture and our rural life generally is over-taxation. Of that there can be no doubt whatever, and we sincerely trust that the very first thing which the Unionists do when they return to power will be to abolish once and for all the special and unjust taxation endured by the agricultural industry.
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