THE LAND BILL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 919, 12 September 1910, Page 8

THE LAND BILL.

Sir,—From: tlie; days; of. Sir., Harry Atkinson to,the preseuftime there has been a struggle .on: ..the. 'part of "the State to secure, the "unearned'increment;'' and • use, it /for, the, benefit_ ofthe whole'.people. • This,.sir. is .an impossible: proposal;',/The.State can-lease■ its lands; and; draw the:rent..frorn-.the'. individuals who:use • the '..land, but it cannot, get the '"unearned increment' on land "value" to spend until the land is sold to- individuals; and - when'it is' sold '■ the /State;' no /longer; draws the reirt/./'Tlie' State .could, raise; the. rent' when- it'gets the : chance to do .so, in .the' same way: that, .private landlords .do ti, '.a'nd'.thei'oby .raise the, cost of .produc-' tion; but the State cannot use' the increased ."value" given, to the/land/by, its .increased, rent.,' The: "value" -.canbe used'- only; w-hen the, land 'is sold' to individuals. '■: /.Indiyiduals do ','iiso"; the unearned increriient,'when they, get .it,, but, the- State 'can .never, secure it .and; still ■ hold'-.-: the power -of drawing■: the, rent. / The same principle applies- to our," railways.;:,' The State: can. use' the '.'profits';" or,' in .other .words, ■ "spend" the ;.profits,' but ■'■ it,cannot spend, the capitalised "valuo" of. the profits unless it sellsthe. railways.'torndividuals— with/all the;rights ~of freehold,iand.' Individual ownership,of/land, or (rail; ways, ' gives, individuals tho power /to "use": the /unearned /increment 'to em-. 'ploy ' labour - 'and,' -iriereasev the' general prosperity,; of -the; people; but -if the. State-owns,,the. land, or-railways, it cannot- possibly'get hold 1 of, any: more money'"or "value" than the amount of rent 'it 'receives./from; 'individuals'/for the use of the land, siudv'thc "profits" it makes '.by using ,the;railways., .This problem' must/be,- better "Understood, ;by our' legisra'tftrsWefofo they-.can pos-Bibly,;benefit'-.this:.Dominion ;.by : ,lahd; etc.,//,r ■•'.,:/./;/ :/:,■'//;/-;;i; ../ J ;:i;;A:.(SANFORD;: (/ ;(/,/