The more moderate of the Farmers' representatives appear to be
better pleased with the Government Agricultural Holdings Bill than we thought they would be. Mr. W. C. Borlase, Member for East Cornwall, and President of the Farmers' Alliance, told an audience at Hackney on Wednesday that, although he wished for some amendments, and an extension of the drainage clauses to some other improvements, he regarded the Bill as "an honest and conscientious attempt to settle the question," which the Alliance would not oppose. This declaration is the more noteworthy, because Mr. Borlase is by no means Conservative about land, but as regards its enfranchisement would go the whole Radical length,—that is, would make it as saleable as Consols, abolishing alike primo- geniture and settlement. He warns the landlords, moreover, that they must submit to a permanent reduction of rent of 50 per cent. That is, we imagine, premature and exaggerated, but we quote it to show that Mr. Borlase does not accept the Bill from any concealed feeling of sympathy with extreme landlord views.
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