There are those tenant farmers who are at this moment in time probably fighting a losing battle,just like tenant farmer, Mr. A.Riddell of Peaston Farm, Ormiston, East Lothian.who most sorrowfully took his own life when faced with eviction, being in a 'Limited Partnership ' lease and had tenure and despite his family having farmed that land for more than 100 years he was given notice to quit by his landlord, Mr A.Salvesen.
Campaigners have attacked a ruling by the UK's highest court,' THE LONDON BASED,' SUPREME COURT' that gives wealthy businessmen back powers to force 100's of tenant farmers of their land..
As usual when it comes down to it, there are those for, and those against, anything and everything be it renting or buying.Wealthy landowners and tenant farmers. The laidback, and those whose backs are laid against the wall. Who knows what lies ahead , will the wealthy hive of to sunnier climes or the
poor do what their forefathers did ,emigrate for a better life in another country? We may better know the answer after the Referendum.
100 years ago ,very nearly to the day!
PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE HOUSE OF COMMONS , AGRICULTURE, SCOTLAND.
26 JUNE 1913
Mr.FALCONER: I rise not for the purpose of discussing the work of the Board of Agriculture, generally but, for the purpose of saying a word with the regard to the Small Holdings problem in the Lowlands. I hold very strong opinions on this question. I think that as far as Scotland is concerned ,the development of Small holdings and the populations of the country districts is a matter not of choice but of absolute necessity if Scotland is to continue in the future as she has in the past to depend very largely upon a race brought up within her own shores It is quite obvious to anyone who takes note of the change which is going on in Rural Districts that people are leaving them, and that the same class of people are not being maintained there .I myself have been much struck by two things in my own experience . One thing that strikes me in the Low Counties with which I am best aquainted , on the East Coast of Scotland is the number of people going abroad to find land ,and the second thing that strikes me ,and it is emphasised by reading the Report Of the Board of Agriculture is the comparatively small number of applications made to the Board of Agriculture for land in the Low Counties."
Mr Falconer goes on in a similar vein, and then goes on to emphasise that there is enough land available and that there are many men eminently suitable to apply to the Board and take advantage of the Small Landowners Act . The problem as Mr Falconer sees it is the fact that no men are willing to release themselves from employment just on the hope that they will be successful in their endeavours to obtain a Small Holding . Mr Falconer is truly concerned about the amount of men leaving Scotland to emigrate to Canada, Australia and New Zealand.)
from myself,'
There has been in the not so distant past,and in more recent times in Scottish Land history where the objectives of landowners and tenant farmers have diverged to such an extent that the only means of solving such disputes is through the courts.
Taking the recent example of landowner verses tenant which ended so badly for all concerned, especially for Mr Riddell who, when the judgement went against him, he took his own life.
The landowner and his representatives will also be much scarred by this tragic unforeseen event.
A sorry tale indeed for all the reluctant participants.
HIGHLAND SHOWGROUND.AND WE ARE STILL
IN EDINBURGH!
THE SCOTSMAN, newspaper reported,Friday 21 June 2013.
Both supporters and opponents of tenant farmers having a right to buy their properties were taken aback yesterday after Scottish rural cabinet secretary Richard Lochhead surprisingly put the issue back on the agenda.
With the Scottish Government having opposed this policy back in 2008 most observers considered the controversial issue closed,but Lochhead said his 180degree turn was born of his frustration over the paucity of farm tenancies coming on to the market.
PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 26 JUNE 1913 (exactly 100 years ago)
MR MacCALLUM SCOTT ;If there is to be a large and successful extension of smallholdings ,it can only be accomplished by a large development in afforestation. It is hardly realised what afforestation means for Scotland. There is one quarter of the surface of Scotland at present lying waste or being used for poor grazing or purposes of sport which could be better used for afforestation than at present ,and which cannot be used for smallholdings because it is not arable land. Just think what the reclamation of one quarter of the surface of Scotland would mean. It would mean more for Scotland than if the gold mines of the Rand were discovered there, because they would be worked out someday,but if we had this quarter of the land of Scotland afforested it would add greatly to the material prosperity of Scotland.The land to which I am referring is not suitable for the best kind of agriculture, but it is not waste and desert and stony land.
SIR G. YOUNGER; BUT IT IS LAND SUBJECT TO TERRIBLE RAVAGES AND GALES, WHICH MAKE IT HOPELESS FOR CULTIVATION.
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