Figures and Fancies.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 4 December 1914, Page 3

Figures and Fancies.

[ If —and don't forget the "if" —yoi; ; were offered as a Christmas present either all the land in the United Kingdom or a piece of cheap, common calico of the same area, which would you choose ? Probably, without a moment'? hesitation, you would say, " Tht land." and would imagine that you had got very much the better ol the bargain. From one point oi view, of course this would be so, for land lasts longer than does calico. On the other hand, however, you would be choosing very much the cheaper of the two offered gifts. The land of the United Kingdom, including town areas, is estimated to be worth £.2,500,000,000. A piece of cheap calico of the same size as the United Kingdom would cost more than £9,000,000,000. Difficult to believe, isn't it ? Still, the facts cannot be denied. Average agricultural land may be reckoned as bein,g worth £.20 an acre ; building land, say, twenty-five miles from Charing Cross, at £100 an acre; ten miles from Charing Cross, £500 an acre. Now, a common calico costs £121 an acre, a good calico, £200 ; whilst a good quality linoleum costs £750, and n^ ' !;nary Turkey carpet £3,600 an acre.