THOUGHTS FOR THE TIMES.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 March 1926, Page 2

THOUGHTS FOR THE TIMES.

Against Catitai.ising Swank. Mr Lloyd George, at Shrewsbury, in pursuance of his land campaign: “ 1 have never put forward my scheme as an attack upon land owners. On the contrary. 1 have said that in so far as there is a change needed, it is due almost- entirely to the fact that, owing to the heavy taxation of the war which has fallen upon all classes, it has became exceedingly difficult for land owners to discharge the functions which they did before the war. Can you give me anv other industry where you can

add £150.000,009 to its production? lint lieri* you could increase by £150.000,000, and there is a market for £-100,000.000 at your door. AVhere does the Dane sell that stuff he makes bigger profits out of? Here. Land has been bought and sold at prices which have nothing to do with its agricultural value. A lot of people buy land for the swank of the tiling: it- makes them land owners.’ AYell, when you come to a great national policy I am against capitalising swank and making the nation pay for it. Every good land owner lots his farm at its agricultural value. No decent land owner charges anything except agricultural values. What i maintain is that the value which a good land owner puts upon his land to the farmer is the value that the State also ought to put upon it.”