In the past ten years it is estimated
: that 40,000 farm k — redundant in the Scottish border areas. Chane ihe sopcgamcal alg oo modern machinery and new methods that are keeping this very
iful part of Scotland in the fore as a rich agricultural district. > But the depopulation is creating problems for the landowners and deicegde Having saved by eliminating unnecessary labour they are now sy lobbying the local councils for remission of rates that they are paying on the hundreds of empty farmworkers! cot
t the countryside, cottages dotted all over
This is Sir Alec Douglas-Home country - he farms a big estate in the borders - and with a sum of over £16,000 in rates involved the big landowners of the borders are a powerful lobby. In Roxburgh, where David ~ proree took the seat from the Tories for the Liberals recently, the agitation — class of rich suffering gentry is going to the extent of threats vg ock in the roofs of the cottages unless the rates are removed, In e Highlands thousands of cottages were destroyed in this way to clear the land for deer shooting or grouse parties,
Ironically many of the empty cottages have been renovated by Government grants, and the National Farmers Union in the borders - dominated by the big landowners, is talking of calculated vandalism at a time when the housing problem in Scotland is growing more acute each month.
The borders are beautiful country. The Government should take over these cottages where appropriate, relieve the landowners of the rates and let the cottages in the countryside to city families for holidays through the summer, It is a tragic thing that many Edinburgh and Glasgow working class families never see anything of the country they live in, even during their holidays because they are herded into the "popular" resorts to be fleeced of their money by the gimmickry: of the holiday barons.