Country Life
DIVERGENT LAND OWNERS.
In the country itself events arc happening that exactly mirror the debate in the House of Commons on Regional Planning. Some owners are asking to have their parks scheduled as permanent open spaces, or at any rate are pleased when the suggestion is made. Others definitely desire to be scheduled as suitable for building sites or factories. No little surprise has been felt locally at the action of the second group, but it is natural enough. A poor man. is not likely to welcome permanent loss of value in his property ; and the most unfortunate pair of related facts in our present civilization is that agricultural land becomes almost worthless, while building land, even in very rural parishes, often soars to fantastic figures. This means that if England is to be preserved its future must be planned by an authority with as wide powers as possible. The great land owners did more than anyone else to make and maintain the peculiar beauties of England. They can do it no longer ; and a substitute must be found. The moment is critical.
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