Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1908 edition. Excerpt: ... APPENDIX F Land Nationalisation Having admitted that it is desirable to nationalise the land, and having provisionally objected to the most popular scheme for so doing, it is not unreasonable that I should be expected to suggest some alternative scheme. There is at the present moment a great amount of agricultural land which could be purchased by the State at a very low price. This land could be bought piecemeal. It is always happening, and it will presumably continue to happen, that valueless lands become very valuable either unexpectedly (as in the case of the discovery of minerals), or owing to the deliberate "developing " of the land by the owners. While the first of these causes of value should not be left out of count, the second is the more important. In these days of cheap and easy locomotion the site of a town is of comparatively slight importance; and moreover the worst and most unproductive soils will do as well for building on as the best. The State then having purchased a certain area of cheap land could proceed to "develop" some part of this, the building and roadmaking being put out to contract. Buildings and land would thus both belong to the State, and would be worked by a Government Estate Office situated on the spot. There would be thus no leasing of land to builders or speculators,1 but in order to convenience prospective tenants the State would be at liberty to consider the wishes of individuals, and when desirable to build to order. If it is true that the State would make such a desirable landlord as some affirm, such a town if laid out in a healthy and attractive manner (as would be very possible under the circumstances), and if managed on business lines, ought to be very successful. The 1 This elimination of the...
