Newfoundland Ruined by Land Speculation LAND & LIBERTY MONTHLY JOURNAL FOR LAND VALUE TAXATION AND FREE TRADE

Fortieth Year.—No, 475. DECEMBER, 1933. Id. By Post, 2s. per annum.

The Liberal Crossing. allotments at reasonable rents and with security of The Liberal Parliamentary Party, led by Sir Herbert tenure, he now proposes to storm the Treasury in order Samuel, has "crossed the floor " and gone into opposition to pay more money to the landlords and encourage them to the Government. Explaining in a wireless address to be still more obstructive. It is an old saying that on 16th November the reasons for this step, Sir Herbert the greatest burden on the land is the landlord, but it Samuel said that they desired to resume the fullest is a still more grievous burden when the weight of the freedom of action. They had withdrawn from partici- Minister of Agriculture is added to it. pation in the Ministry in September, 1932, because of An American Authority on Local Taxation. profound disagreement with the tariff policy of the An interesting discussion of the British system of Government. " Liberals regarded it as a failure of local taxation appeared in the American City for October, statesmanship that idle capital and idle labour were 1933. Mr Ernest S. Griffith, Professor of Political not brought together to provide for obvious national Science in Syracuse University, after describing our needs." system, pointed out that " to base a tax system on use A joint statement in similar terms endorsing the and occupancy rather than on ownership becomes action of the Parliamentary Party signed on behalf neither more nor less than a tax on room space." It of the National Liberal Federation, the Scottish Liberal was a sharp penalty on the development of property. Federation and other Liberal organizations was issued " The higher the tax rate, the greater the penalty and on the eve of the reassembling of Parliament. The thus the more the tax system becomes responsible for passage we have quoted is almost in the exact terms of checking the increase in national wealth. Furthermore, a resolution proposed at the meeting of the National this fact is largely responsible for the considerably Liberal Federation at Scarborough in May (Land <£• greater overcrowding per room in an English city than Liberty, May-June, p. 228). The Scarborough resolution here." was amended before being passed by the insertion of Professor Griffith added that the American system, the words " idle land," and by an expression of regret so far as it fell on the ownership of land, exerted " a at the stoppage of the operation of Land Value Taxation continuous pressure to develop one's property or to sell provisions of the Budget of 1931. to someone who will." It is remarkable that Sir Herbert and the authors of To this article Dr Thomas Adams, the well-known the joint statement deliberately omitted any reference expert on town planning, made a reply, in which he to bringing idle labour and idle capital into contact with stated that under the English system " in the final idle land without which neither can function. He analysis the tax is paid by the owners." He went on indicated, however, that their policy would be based on to say that the English system had no connection with that contained in the Liberal Yellow Book of 1928. We overcrowding of rooms and had encouraged lower may remind Sir Herbert of his own advocacy of the density of building. rating of land values in his book on Liberalism so Dr Adams expressed the opinion that " in Britain far back as 1902 (an extract from which is given in there is no limit to the amount of land that is available another column) as well as of statements to the same for building to meet all public wants," and that " building effect contained in the Yellow Booh, and hope that his spreads evenly in the suburbs and cities." This new freedom of action will unseal his lips on this proposal fantastic picture of British conditions is only to be which bears so intimately on the questions of unemploy- paralleled by his statement that " a tax on capital ment and housing which bulked largely in his radio values (of land ?) stimulates capital investment in land speech. speculation." Mr Elliot on Allotments Economic Effects of Local Rating. Speaking at a meeting of the London and Home Professor Griffith made an able rejoinder from which Counties Allotments Organization on 11th November, we quote in part :— Major Elliot, the Minister of Agriculture, said that the " The reader will perhaps be aided in forming his Government was sympathetic towards the provision opinion by a consideration of the ' marginal ' unit of of land for allotments, on the lines of the scheme potential building land. In the United States this pays originated by the Society of Friends. He appealed to taxes, and hence there is pressure to build. The fact landowners to see whether they could provide land under that approximately half the tax is on the land after the conditions of reasonable security of tenure and at low house is built and that this has largely been discounted rentals. He referred to the difficulty of getting land at in the sale price of the land, lessens the ' drag ' upon suitable rentals, and said that the Department would house-building arising from the fear of taxes. The do its utmost to help the allotments movement even if same unit of land in England—paying, as it does, little he had to storm the Treasury. or no local tax-—would not be built upon until the tenant The present Minister of Agriculture may well go down is willing to pay the entire tax, on the land as well as to history as the landlord's friend. By means of the the house. quotas, subsidies and restrictions for which he has been "I do not think that Dr Adams will find many responsible, he has done his best to maintain or raise economists who wovdd agree with his statement that rents. Faced with the difficulty of obtaining land for the entire tax in England falls on the owner. In so far 318 LAND & LIBERTY SEPTEMBER, 1933 as there is any element of truth in this, surely it is (9th November) in which it was written :—- only because the landowner, if under no pressure to " What is the assessment at which such privately sell, might (were it not for the local rate or tax) possibly owned land is rated to-day ? Who or what has given extort a still higher price for his land—a practice akin this land its value except the presence and activity of to monopoly. My contention is, therefore, that the the whole community ? Yet, valuable as the land is, point at which land is ' ripe ' for building (to use Dr and the value belonging to the community as it does, Adams' expression) occurs at a considerably later stage the city cannot under the present law get more than in England than in the United States—meanwhile a minute revenue from it by way of rates. Further- producing no municipal revenue ; and if this be true, more, it is exploited in this way when the land is then my thesis that relatively the British tax (a) con- wanted for a very desirable public purpose." stitutes a drag on the creation of taxable wealth, (b) forces the overcrowding of existing houses, and (c) forces The Newcastle Council, in its 1929 Report advocating the Government into a policy of subsidizing house- land value rating gave numerous examples of the way building, are accordingly demonstrated. The higher in which the city had been bled in its land purchases the rate of the tax to be imposed subsequent to building, during the previous 25 years— the greater the delay in building. the Benwell Cemetery, for instance, where the land costs £8,811, although the rates previously levied on "The Heart of the Analysis." that land were only £11 2s. in the year ; or the Walker " To tax income penalizes development : to tax housing estate, where the land costs £2,590 and the ownership stimulates use. This is the heart of the rates levied on the same land had only been 10s. lOd. analysis, and applies not only to vacant land and houses, in the year. but to relatively obsolete property as well." Particulars of sites then under consideration were also We may add one final comment. Dear land causes given— over-crowding of buildings on land. The rating and many of them for allotments. In the case of 19 of taxation of land values would make land cheaper and these sites, covering a total area of 533 acres, the total would, therefore, facilitate the provision of more land price asked was £365,984, whereas the amount of rates per house. Time was when Dr Adams represented that being levied on all that land was only £274 in the year. view. In his report as Town-Planning Adviser of the Here is surely an illustration of the " ring of land Canadian Commission of Conservation (see Land rf- monopoly " that surrounds our towns, and revelation Liberty, September, 1918) he wrote :— also of the real cause of the unemployment and the " The taxation of vacant lands recommended by the hard times from which the working man and the Commission (the Ontario 1916 Commission on Unem- business man suffer to-day. ployment) so that the evils resulting from speculation in land, which contributed to the recent industrial New Vested Interests in the Tariff. depression and makes more difficult any satisfactory A plan for endowing industrial research with a fund dealing with unemployment in industrial centres, is of £2,000,000 per annum for ten years has been placed both just and desirable if the taxation is based on a before twenty-four industrial research associations by sound basis of valuation and has regard to the need of the joint committee of the British Science Guild and encouraging the best economic use of the land." the Association of Scientific Workers. It is proposed that the Government should raise the fund by setting Newcastle Improvements Held Up. aside £2,000,000 a year for the tariff revenue. No more insidious and dangerous plan for perpetuating Schemes for beautifying Newcastle, especially in the tariff taxation could well be imagined. Scientific more historic areas of the city, are being held up because workers should be impartial. To make their incomes of the high prices asked by landowners. depend upon an unjust system of taxation, mostly paid The Sunday Times (5th November) reports that the by the poor, is a subtle means of prejudicing their City Council have been in negotiation with owners of minds against every attempt to abolish it. land near the ancient castle, the Black Gate, the thir- The corruption employed by the vested interests in teenth-century entrance to the castle, and the Mansion every country where protective tariffs exist is notorious. House in Ellison Place, only to find that the prices asked Mr Baldwin himself once uttered a warning against it. are prohibitive. Near the castle the price is £12 a square Here is a case for his attention. yard ; for 180 square yards at the rear of the Black Gate the lowest price the owner is prepared to accept Aberdeen's Housing Problem. is £2,000 ; while for 2,200 square yards of unsightly ground facing the Mansion House £6,600 is asked. In Mrs G. B. Esslemont, in an address to the Abeideen none of these cases is the council prepared to buy at Soroptimist Club (Glasgow Herald, 10th October) on these figures. child welfare work in Aberdeen, said that the housing question was a serious problem. In Aberdeen there The prices asked work out from £14,500 to £58,000 were 4,000 families living either in sub-lets or insanitary per acre. If rated at all, this land will be entered in the houses, where they were overcrowded, with no proper rate books at an insignificant figure. Some years ago separation for the sexes, or living in caravans or tents. the Corporation of Newcastle-on-Tyne published a There were no fewer than 77 children in tents and masterly report explaining the shortcomings of the caravans at Seaton. There were 21 families, and some present system of rating and advocating the rating of of the children were very young. Some of the people land values. Here we have one more illustration, had been turned out of County Council houses, and which it is to be hoped will impel this and other local there they were in these tents paying 5s. a week and authorities to renew their agitation for Parliamentary 5s. for the ground the tent stood on. That was 10s. powers to levy their rates on land values every penny of a week they were paying for their tents. They must which is due to the community and not to any individual. have better houses for these people. The Parliamentary Return (No. 104 of 1914) which Other Newcastle Instances. was published at the instance of Mr Charles E. Price The " hold up " of these amenity schemes prompted (then M.P.) showing the area and rates paid in respect a letter from Petty France to the Neivcastle Journal of " agricultural land " in Scottish boroughs gave these SEPTEMBER, 1933 LAND & LIBERTY 319 figures for Aberdeen : Total area of the city, 6,748 acres; SIR HERBERT SAMUEL ON THE area of agricultural land, 2,400 acres ; rates paid on that agricultural land, £922 a year. Here was one-third of RATING OF LAND VALUES the city area in the hands of holders not likely to sell In 1902 Mr (now Sir) Herbert Samuel published a book below the " market value" for housing and other on Liberalism : Its Principles and Proposals. Some purposes. Only a small portion of that land has since extracts from the chapter in which he deals with the rating been built upon and the holders of what remains have of land values may yet be of interest. He says :— been relieved of all but a fraction of the meagre amount " That the owners of land values benefit by the expendi- of local rates formerly levied. But when it is a matter ture of rates is clear. If no public moneys were spent on of building the much needed houses, not only must a the towns there would be no proper system of roads, of monopoly price be paid for the land but also the local sewers, of lights in the streets, or police supervision. With- taxes fall with all their weight on these habitations and out these sex-vices, the towns as we know them could hardly have come into existence. Great conglomerations of their occupiers. The question is how any person can people would be impossible ; men would be unable to make his or her statement about the housing problem carry on business for want of communications ; they would and quietly ignore what matters most in the way of be decimated by epidemics ; they would be the helpless a solution. victims of crime ; the nation would now be dwelling in villages, and squalid villages at that ; and the rental of the An " Unorthodox American." soil would be little above its agricultural value. No rates, The sixth of a series of short biographies of men who therefore, would mean small rents. But if the owners of have influenced America appeared in Scribner's Magazine, land values benefit from many forms of local expenditure November issue. The author is Mr Albert Jay Nock. they may justly be called upon to bear a share of that expenditure. . . . The owners of land value, therefore, The subject is " Henry George : Unorthodox American." ought to be rated towards those expenses of their town that Within the compass of twelve pages the story of Henry result in benefit to them, in proportion to the amount of George's life is well sketched, and also the leading this property which they enjoy." principles of his philosophy. " George's great merit," says Mr Nock, " is that of He then proceeds to consider the question as to whether having worked out his discovery to its full logical any part of the rates levied under the existing system falls upon the owners of land, and concludes that " whichever length in a complete system, which none of his pre- view of the incidence of urban rates be taken, the justice decessors did; not only establishing fundamental and necessity of imposing a special rate on site values economics as a true science, but also discerning and remains established." clearly marking out its natural relations with history, politics, and ethics." " Progress and Poverty is the first and only thorough, In a letter to Land & Liberty Mr John B. Sharpe writes : complete, scientific inquiry into the fundamental cause "In a crisis like this, the man out of work is a truly of industrial depressions and involuntary poverty. pathetic figure. In a rude state of society he can turn to the freely available natural resources. With an axe and a The ablest minds of the century attacked and con- spade and a gun he can, even in the wilderness, make demned it . . . nevertheless, in a preface to the himself independent ; and if he has a family the female definitive edition, George said what very few authors members will know the arts of spinning and weaving ; of a technical work have ever been able to say, that he but the labourer, or artizan, in a highly organized industrial had not met with a single criticism or objection that was society, who is out of work, even if he is offered the use not fully anticipated and answered in the book itself." of land, is practically helpless. What afforded opportimity We welcome this article as one among many which to the idle man in a rude state of society becomes but a mockery to him. The only practical way he can enjoy have appeared in recent months indicating that Henry the benefit of natural resources is by participating in the George is no longer a prophet without honour in his social value which attaches to them in civilized com- own country. munities ; the appropriation of their rental value by the community automatically secures to him that advantage Without Comment. which corresponds to direct contact with the soil in a ruder At the annual meeting of the European Commercial form of society. It serves to keep open the door of oppor- Corporation, Ltd., held on 9th November, the chairman tunity and maintains for him a just rate of wages." explained that the company held, through subsidiary * * * companies : (a) The freehold of approximately two miles of seashore at Lee-on-Solent; (b) the pier; (c) the Part of the kitchen gardens on the late Sir Thomas exclusive right of entry to the cliffs ; (d) an area of Lipton's estate at East Barnet is to become the site for an about 68 acres of valuable undeveloped freehold building elementary school. Land out there, which not so long ago land, as well as developed building land with about would fetch no more than £400 an acre, to-day is worth 4,400 feet of actual road frontage ; (e) a brickyard of double, even if it is marshy. It is the sequel to the exten- about 31 acres ; (/) a swimming pool. sion of the Tube to Cockfosters. Nine hundred houses are The chairman went on to say:— going up on one estate and 22 builders are already at " Our most important asset is our freehold of the sea- work.—London Star, 12th October. front. I want to make it clear what I mean in our case by the term ' sea-front.' I mean not only that YOUR CHRISTMAS OR NEW YEAR GIFT portion of the front which constitutes the promenade, but also the beach itself. This is an asset that I believe BOOKS IN SPECIAL BINDINGS is almost unique ; usually both sea-front and beach Progress and Poverty belong to the municipality of the town, and you are Red Rexine Post Free 2s. 3d. probably aware of the revenues yielded by them. Superior Green Rexine. . „ „ 3s. 3d. " We own every trading facility, amusement rights, {Each with Qilt Top and Ribbon Book Marker) and in fact all that a freehold can confer in connection Social Problems therewith ; no one can bathe, park a car, erect a kiosk, Red Rexine Post Free 2s. 3d. provide amusements, import or use a deck-chair, etc., without our consent and without payment to us." Gems From Henry George Superior Cloth .... Post Free Is. 2d. Receipt of a Free Copy of "Land and Liberty" is an Send Orders to our Offices invitation to become a subscriber. 320 LAND & LIBERTY SEPTEMBER, 1933

service, and the local sea communications, as well as the LAND & LIBERTY property in the dock at St. John's. Such an abdication by Published by THE UNITED COMMITTEE FOR THE a Government of some of its most important functions is TAXATION OF LAND VALUES, LTD. without parallel. Fortieth Year. Established June, 1894. Following the general election of 1900 a new agreement Id. Monthly. By Post 2s. per annum. was made with Mr Reid, under which, among other United States and Canada, 50 cents. things, Mr Reid surrendered his right to own the railway Editorial Offices at the end of 1938 and was repaid the sum of $1,000,000 94 PETTY FRANCE, LONDON, S.W.I. with interest at 6 per cent, and $850,000 were awarded him in consideration of his surrendering the additional All communications to be addressed to the Editor. lands granted under the contract of 1898. " To re- Telegrams t *'Eulav, Sowest, London." Telephone: Victoria 4308. acquire rights which need never have been parted with Postage on this issue is One Half-penny. cost the country some $2,500,000." Not warned by this example, the Morris Government, elected in 1909, entered into contracts with the Reid DECEMBER, 1933. Newfoundland Company for the construction and operation of some branch lines at the price of $15,000 in cash per mile and 4,000 acres of land per mile. NEWFOUNDLAND RUINED BY Eventually, in 1918, the company was paid $316,960 in lieu of the land thus granted. " These railways have LAND SPECULATION never even paid working expenses, and the losses incurred The Report of the Royal Commission (Lord Amulree, in their operation have proved a severe drain on the C. A. Magrath, LL.D., and Sir W. E. Stavert), just resources of the Island." published, contains an amazing story of land speculation Coming down to the present time, the Commission and financial mismanagement of the affairs of the point out that since 1920 the Budget has shown a Dominion of Newfoundland. The recommendations growing series of deficits, which have been met by are of the mcst drastic nature, including the supersession reckless borrowing. The principal occupation of the of self-government by a Royal Commission and the Island is fishing, supplemented by agriculture. The imposition of an acreage tax on unused land. major portion of the revenue is raised by Customs and An introductory chapter surveys the political and Excise duties. " Not only is there a wide range of economic history of the island. An outstanding feature duties, few commodities being exempt, but the duties of this is the wanton alienation of the country's natural are in many instances so high as to be seriously oppres- resources to railway contractors. The first railway sive. . . . Until recently it was the policy of contract in 1881 provided for building 340 miles of Newfoundland Governments to admit free of duty those track with a subsidy of $180,000 per annum for 35 years articles such as flour, salt and petrol, which were among and an outright grant of 5,000 acres of land for each the essential requirements of the fishermen ; to-day completed mile of track. " Grants of this kind, which even these articles are taxed, and the resulting increase to-day seem disproportionate to the objects in view, in the fishermen's costs has proved a severe handicap were to become a common feature in the history of the to the rehabilitation of the industry in the face of Island's railway development." foreign competition." In 1893 a contract was entered into with Mr (after- Although the fisheries are the principal industry, out wards Sir, Robert Reid for the building of a new line of loans amounting to over $50,000,000 which have some 500 miles in length, and this provided among other been raised since the War, "it is safe to say that, of things that the contractor should receive 5,000 acres of this vast sum, less than $1,000,000 has been devoted land for each mile of line operated. to the stimulation of the fishing industry." Over 50 per Despite the financial crisis of 1894-95, a new contract cent of the normal revenue is absorbed in interest pay- was entered into with this contractor in 1898 by which ments. Owing to the high percentage of the revenue he should operate the whole railway system of the derived from the Customs and Excise (over 70 per cent) Island, receiving a land grant in addition to that of the fishermen have had to bear the greater part of the 1893 of 5,000 acres per mile of track. The contract cost of this borrowing. also provided that the contractor should purchase the Dealing with " the reckless manner in which the reversion to the ownership of the system at the end of resources of the country have been dissipated " the fifty years in consideration of his reassigning to the Commission say :—- Government a portion of the land granted to him Of Newfoundland's total area of 42,000 square miles, together with a cash payment of one million dollars. some 25,000 square miles are forest lands, of which some The net result of the 1893 and 1898 contracts was that 15,000 square miles are either owned by or leased to the the contractor was left with 4,120,000 acres. Space two paper companies, the Anglo-Newfoundland Develop- does not permit the other details of the contracts to be ment Company of Grand Falls and the International given, except that it may be mentioned that the areas Power and Paper Company (of Newfoundland) Limited of Corner Brook. The balance, including some of the lands of land near Grand Lake on which coal had been dis- which were originally awarded to the Reid interests under covered were also transferred to Mr Reid. various contracts for railway construction and operation, This transaction was so extraordinary that the is mostly held by private individuals. In cases where Governor contemplated refusing assent to the necessary tenure is by licence from the Crown the annual rental is legislation. He appealed to the Colonial Office for $2 per square mile. In very few cases have the individuals guidance. Mr Joseph Chamberlain, the Secretary of in question made any attempt to develop their land ; in State, while disclaiming any right to interfere in the almost every instance the land is held purely for speculative affairs of a self-governing colony, in a strongly-worded purposes. dispatch said :— The Report proceeds to state that great hopes were Under this contract and the earlier one of 1893 for the entertained of the establishment of a third paper mill, construction of the railway, practically all the Crown lands in which case the greater part of the land not held by of any value become, with full rights to all minerals, the the two existing paper companies would probably be freehold property of a single individual, the whole of the required " and the holders of the land would expect to railways are transferred to him, the telegraphs, the postal be bought out at a handsome price." Another " added SEPTEMBER, 1933 LAND & LIBERTY 321 incentive to the speculative holding of undeveloped RELIGION AND ECONOMICS lands " was the prospect of mineral developments following the discovery of the Buchans mine. By Douglas J. J. Owen The Commission's conclusion is " that the continuance (From his Address at the Henry Qeorge Commemoration Service in the Unitarian Church, Chorlton-eum-Hardy, of such a state of affairs is not in the national interest." Manchester, on Sunday, loth October, 1933.) " The right principle is that lands which are capable Religion has many modes and manifestations. The of being put to* commercial use should be operated by common element in all its forms is the recognition of higher the licensees or surrendered to the Crown or that an ends in human life beyond the gratification of physical annual tax should be paid during the period in which wants. Religion should hold out to men an ideal of human they are not operated." greatness which distinguishes them from the rest of creation. They also point out that " the concessions granted The greatness of Henry George lies in his recognition of the higher moral and spiritual values. He saw how the to such companies as are engaged in useful activity in highest spiritual interests of men depended on equal access Newfoundland have deprived the Exchequer of a valu- to all the benefits of nature. His economic gospel is not able source of revenue." The Anglo-Newfoundland based on a materialistic and deterministic conception of Development Company which was promoted by Messrs man's place in history and in nature. Men are free and Harmsworth of London, enjoys freedom from taxation under an obligation to be just. Their value to Henry on its lands and buildings. The other paper company George consists in the fact that they are self-determining enjoys freedom from Customs Taxes on all materials agents, able to fashion their social conditions and to use for new construction. economic forces by obeying clearly recognized economic laws. The deplorable manner in which the affairs of the country have been conducted is illustrated by the fact It is a source of wonder to many that leaders of religious thought never refer to Economic Rent, this marvellous that even in the capital there is no public library. feature of man's relation to the land. The resources of The Commission also deal with the position of nature are infinitely varied in their scope and opportunities Labrador, where the same evils are arising. " No less for man's activities and welfare. One site will yield to a than 12,000 square miles of timbered areas are held by given amount of effort a greater yield than the same effort will earn on another site. This is so obvious that companies and individuals under licence from the the religious mind has entirely overlooked its wonderful Crown at petty rentals ; and, to the detriment and adaptability to man's communal welfare. The parable of loss of the Dominion, none of these areas are at present the Sower should remind us of the Law of Rent. The worked by the licensees." Sower went forth to sow, and presumably with equally The Commission recommend that all forest lands in distributed effort (Labour) sowed seeds of equal quality (Capital) upon soil (Land) of varying fertility and capacity. Newfoundland and Labrador, except those belonging to Some gave thirty, some sixty, and some a hundred-fold. the two paper companies, whether held under licence or The difference between the more productive land and the in fee simple, "should bear an annual tax of so much least productive represents land value or economic rent. per acre, and that, in the event of the tax being in arrear As the extra yield which one site gives compared with and unpaid for six months, the licence or lease should be another is not due to the individual effort of the sower, cancelled, or, in cases where the land is held in fee such yield was manifestly not designed to become private simple, that the land should revert to the Crown." property. Such is the Law of Rent or Land Value. Where is there any evidence of a planned universe more striking In support of this recommendation they add that " it and convincing than this : that as men congregate together may be expected that taxation of this kind will encourage in communities they give to the land on which they gather the erection of sawmills in some cases, and the surrender a value which is always proportionate to their social of lands to the Crown in others. In either event the activities and expenditure ? Without an understanding country should benefit." of the Law of Rent, there is no possibility of seeing anything but a chaotic, meaningless universe, the arena for a merciless The proposal is a rough-and-ready method of dealing struggle for existence. If there are immutable decrees and with the matter, but not more drastic than the situation inexorable laws of an all-powerful and all-wise Creator, requires. It is to be hoped that it will be put into they must include the laws of economics which we may operation, and will in a short time lead to a more ignore only at our peril. comprehensive and scientific method of handling the Though man does not live by bread alone, it remains Island's finances, through a proper valuation of its true that he cannot live without bread. Religion cannot natural resources and the imposition of a uniform tax ignore the physical basis of life ; it has a concern in on the value of all land without any discrimination or economics. exemption and the repeal of the crushing tariff taxes at Ethics also treats of men's desires and seeks justice and present levied. equality in their satisfaction. A man cannot eat his bread in peace while conscious that he and his fellows have The story of Newfoundland, as told by the Royal less than their fair share because of waste and injustice in Commission, is an object-lesson on the evils of land the distribution of bread. Private ownership of land is speculation resulting from untaxed ownership of land the cause of the greatest waste and the greatest oppression. which every country may study with profit. Therefore Ethics joins in the demand for the taxation of land values. F. C. R. D. After Economics and Ethics comes Religion speaking of man's true place in the scheme of things. His higher We earnestly renew invitation to our readers to secure destiny rests upon his self-determination and freedom. additional subscribers for Land ck Liberty. Extra copies of Our circumstances are within our own control, and Henry the present and recent issues may be had on application as George has shown the simple means for transforming social the necessary recruiting material. Why not buy a dozen life into something higher and nobler. To take all taxes or more copies to be distributed on suitable occasions or by from the life and activities of men ; to replace them by suitable means ; or provide a list of names and addresses so a tax on the socially-created values of land, and thus to that we can post copies direct, and on your recommendation break the power of land monopoly and open up the bound- if you wish ? Make a three months' campaign of it and less resources of nature on equal terms to all the children results are sure to follow. of men—this may be described as economics and may Another request is to send us cuttings of any letters or involve political action, but religion has no meaning or articles appearing in the Press which you think deserve message that does not include this and earnestly teach it. notice or comment in these columns. State name and date On the highest religious grounds it is necessary for men of the newspaper. This will be a considerable service. to be free economically as well as spiritually. 322 LAND & LIBERTY SEPTEMBER, 1933

NOTES AND NEWS THE BY-ELECTION AT RUSHOLME Is it too soon to hope that it may be the mission of the Republic to unite all nations of English speech—whether Dr Percy McDougall's Candidature they grow beneath the Northern Star or Southern Cross— A last minute surprise was afforded in the by-election at in a league which, by ensuring justice, promoting peace Rusholme, Manchester. The Liberal Association met on and liberating commerce, will be the forerunner of a the eve of the poll, and after discussion decided not to run world-wide federation that will make war the possibility a candidate because the time was too short. Dr Percy of a past age, and turn to works of usefulness the enormous McDougall, whose name had been before the Association, forces now dedicated to destruction P then announced his intention of running as an independent candidate. He obtained a nomination form, and had it HENRY GEORGE. signed and delivered to the returning officer the following 1877. Fourth of July Oration, morning. San Francisco. Dr McDougall, in his election address and in his campaign, This prophetic statement, beautifully reproduced by made the taxation of land values the basis of his campaign. the printers of Land

INTERNATIONAL NEWS. UNITED STATES IRISH FREE STATE The Chicago Convention At a meeting of the Dublin Corporation, held on 6th November, Dr Conn Murphy, M.A., D.Ph., introduced The eighth annual Henry George Congress met in Chicago a resolution that in order to relieve the municipal rate- on 25th, 26th and 27th September, organized by the payers of the burden of unjust taxation the Government Henry George Foundation of Pittsburgh, of which be requested to pass legislation for the taxation of land Mr George E. Evans is President and Mr Percy R. values, " as these values belong of right to the community, Williams is Secretary. We condense the following report whose industry and resources had created and sustained from Land and Freedom (New York). them." The Congress was a great success, both in point of The motion was seconded by Mr C. Breathnach, T.D., numbers and enthusiasm, the attendance being larger than and supported by Mr J. J. Byrne. After some discussion on any previous occasion. It was welcomed to Chicago by it was decided to consider the matter further at a special Wiley Wright Mills, a former member of the city council, meeting. George E. Evans responding. Clayton J. Ewing presided The Irish Press (9th November) printed a very able letter over the opening session. P. R. Williams reviewed the by Dr Murphy, replying to criticisms by Councillor Belton, political situation in Pittsburgh in connection with the from which we quote the following passages :-— candidature of William N. McNair for mayor, and the prospect of an extension of the operation of the graded tax Councillor Belton also said that my proposal meant law. Francis Maguire, assistant secretary of the Founda- confiscation. On the contrary, it means the stoppage of tion, read his report, and it was fine to hear this veteran confiscation. The actual confiscators are the owners of express his faith in the early triumph of the cause. urban land. They confiscate every year a huge share of Among other notable contributions to the discussions at the combined earnings of all classes of citizens, to not subsequent sessions may be mentioned : Clarence Darrow one penny of which they are in justice entitled. More- on the National Recovery Act, the Hon. M. H. Harrison, over the amount of money which they thus unjustly State Senator from Cleveland, Ohio, Mrs Anna George de extort increases from year to year without any expendi- Mille, Alan C. Thompson of Toronto, the Hon. Abe D. ture either of money or effort on their part. This con- Waldauer, Chester C. Piatt, E. B. Gaston, Fiske Warren, fiscation ought to, and must, be stopped. It is a deadly John L. Monroe, Henry L. Tideman, Henry H. Hardinge, incubus on trade, industry, commerce and civic improve- Frank Stephens, Will Atkinson, J. P. Kohler, Emil Jorgen- ment. sen (reading a paper by Professor Harry Gunnison Brown) and Dr. Mark Millikin. In fact my proposal endeavours to remedy a crying social evil which is one of the root causes of the present An unusual feature was the attendance of a delegation social and economic crisis whose reality none can deny, of seven farmers from Milk River, Alberta, where good and whose magnitude may well dismay even the boldest progress has been made in shifting taxation from improve- social reformer. ments on to land value.

Joseph Dana Miller gave an account of the work of the HELD TO RANSOM Henry George School of Social Science in New York, organized by Oscar Geiger, as well as of the work of the Finally, some Councillors do not seem to realize how Manhattan Single Tax Club and the radio addresses of closely the housing shortage is connected with the high Charles H. Ingersoll. He also spoke of the activities of price of land. The Corporation Housing Department the Robert Schalkenbach Foundation, presided over by has been held to ransom by the owners of sites, the the Hon. Charles O'Connor Hennessy assisted by Miss citizens being thus rack-rented on their own improve- Antoinette Kaufmann as secretary. Since the Foundation ments. A glance at the cost of some recently purchased started (in 1925) it had distributed over 40,000 of the sites will show this :— works of Henry George, 250,000 pamphlets and over Cost 700,000 circulars and leaflets. Acres. Cost per acre. £ £ Pittsburgh's New Mayor Benburb Street i 1,623 3,200 The contest for the Mayoralty of Pittsburgh resulted Bow Lane ... n 1,325 900 4,300 in the election of Mr William N. McNair, who ran as a St. Joseph's Place n 10,012 10,500 Democratic candidate. The principal plank in his platform Bride's Alley 3 31,412 5,600 was taxation reform, and especially the extension of the Foley Street 2 11,377 " Pittsburgh Plan," under which buildings are taxed at No wonder the people of Dublin are so badly housed ! a lower rate than land values. At present the tax rate If we are really in earnest about solving the housing on buildings is half the rate on land values. Mr McNair problem we must make land values and land values only, proposed that it should be reduced until the rate on build- the basis of assessment to the local rates and the source of ings was one-fifth of the rate on land values. This evoked local revenues. the usual complaint from the Conservative interests that the biggest beneficiaries would be skyscrapers—a criticism IRISH TRADE UNION CONGRESS that ignores the patent fact that skyscrapers are generally The National Executive of the Irish Trade Union Con- built on the most valuable land. The insinuation in the gress met in Dublin on 11th November. The Irish Press argument is that a tax on skyscrapers is paid by the pre- says:— sumably wealthy owners, while in reality it is paid by the tenants. " A lengthy discussion took place in respect to a reso- Mr McNair made it clear that " single tax " was the main lution calling for taxation on land values. The National issue in the campaign. An interesting incident was his Executive of the Congress feels that the abolition of land- address in their native language to 3,000 Italian electors, lordism in respect of agricultural land should be followed in which he referred to the great jurist, Gaetano Filangiere, up by the abolition of landlordism in urban areas. as one of the precursors of Henry George. " With a view to this, the Government will be pressed This success is not merely of happy augury for Pitts- to institute an inquiry to compel those having ground-rent burgh ; it is a welcome encouragement to all our American holdings to register their property, to disclose the rent co-workers. being taken therefrom, and to reveal all other essential particulars. Mr James F. Muirhead's article on Land Value Taxation " The meeting expressed the view that when this data in the September Contemporary Review is being printed in has been collected by the State, it will reveal the fact that the Living Age (New York). A summary of it has ap- an enormous amount of money is being taken by ground peared in this country in the new periodical, View Points. landlords, because of the industry of the people in general." 324 LAND & LIBERTY SEPTEMBER, 1933

NEW SOUTH WALES FRANCE The Standard, the journal of the very active Henry A new contribution to the French literature of land George League of N.S.W., as usual contains much interest- reform has recently appeared in a booklet entitled La ing matter. The following extracts from the Annual Reforme Fondere by Messrs A. Daude-Bancel and Sam Report of the Tariff Board are significant :— Meyer, published by Terre et Liberie, 18, Avenue de la No net gain in employment is obtained as the result of Criolla, Suresnes (Seine), price 1 franc. The book, which employing one group of operatives if the cost of their has a preface by Mr Henri Sellier, Mayor of Suresnes, employment is a direct charge on the industries pur- contains sections dealing with the evolution of property in chasing their output. If the solution of the employment land, economic rent, the single tax and land nationalization. problem could be found along these lines, the more It contains a large amount of information within a small industry was taxed in order to provide employment else- compass, and the only criticism which may be made of it where the more employment would be made available, is that the authors are so studiously impartial that the but this is obviously fallacious. reader can hardly tell whether they favour land national- The maximum employment of our people is largely ization or the taxation of land values. dependent upon the successful expansion of our export industries. This expansion, though largely affected by the world's demand for our products, is also bound up with low costs of production. The establishment of new CHINA industries or the extension of existing industries which An account of the Communist State, whose headquarters need the application of excessive rates of duty tend to are at Shuikin, and which controls central and southern add to costs and retard progress and employment. Kiangsi and Western Fukien, appeared in The Times of An interesting example of how the monopoly privileges 13th November. The principal tenets to which the peasants conferred by a tariff is reflected in increased land values is in this Chinese Soviet Republic are required to subscribe afforded by the section of the Report dealing with the are " The Land for the People " and " Down with Im- tobacco duties. Under cover of the duty of 5s. 2d. per lb., perialism." The following account is given of the economic growers of leaf obtained relatively high prices in 1931. measures taken by this Soviet:— The returns secured were in many cases excessive and alto- gether out of keeping with the returns of other primary All land is common. When they came into the villages industries. As a result of these highly remunerative the first thing the Communists did was to kill all the returns and the anticipation of even higher returns in the landlords, burn all the title-deeds and tear up all the future, there was at the time the Board carried out its landmarks. The land (even including temple lands and investigations, an extraordinary boom in tobacco growing. burial grounds) was then redistributed. All marketing In each State of the Commonwealth, except Tasmania, of produce is done through a central government agency, land for tobacco growing was being sold at inflated prices and to-day the peasant inside the Red areas is buying at the very time when the value of land suitable for other his rice and pork cheaper than the peasant outside them. purposes was falling sharply. One central and at least two local banks have been estab- lished and notes and silver coins have been issued, the former bearing the head of Lenin and the latter the ITALY hammer and sickle. A " progressive " tax is levied in A review of the new edition, published by the Henry proportion to income. Marriage, religion and the George Foundation, of Henry George's The Science of Political hereditary system have been abolished. Gambling and Economy, appeared in Riforma Sociale (Turin), written by opium-smoking are strictly suppressed. All capital the editor, Professor Luigi Einaudi. We print an English above a certain very small amount is confiscated, and translation. the kulak—the prosperous peasant—is relentlessly England is a tenacious country. In our own, Henry proscribed. George is scarcely remembered now, though he enjoyed a brief period of extraordinary success, when Progress and It does not appear, however, what steps are taken to Poverty, his most famous book, appeared in translation in maintain common property in the land, or whether any the third series of the " Biblioteca dell'Economista " and land revenue is collected. Social Problems was translated with a lengthy preface by Mase Dori. In England, on the contrary, in January, 1929, a " Foundation " named after him was instituted Out in Manchuria the world depression is being felt as with the object of spreading the knowledge of the social much perhaps as anywhere. But everyone at least has and economic body of thought which is embodied in his a job. Mongol lands being public property cannot be principal works. These are, in addition to the two named mortgaged. There is no such thing as unemployment above, Protection or Free Trade ? The Condition of Labour, among the Mongols, except possibly among those who have A Perplexed Philosopher and The Science of Political broken away from their tribes and are attempting to make Economy. The founders hold that Henry George's ideas their way to the white man's world.—The Express, afford the only possible basis of economic freedom and social Adelaide. justice, and that their application would abolish involuntary * * * poverty, would facilitate all other reforms and would generally contribute to the welfare of humanity. Names De Nieuwe Aarde, journal of the Dutch League affiliated could be cited of great economists of independent minds with the International Union for Land Value Taxation and who drew their inspiration from principles similar to those Free Trade, has published Mr Lester's article on " Man of George. But how many people are likely to search and the Machine," appearing in our October issue. Our through the works of Rodbertus, von Thiinen, Gossen or compliments to Mr Ulehake, who has made the translation. Walras, for the foundations of the theory of taxation of * * * rent as a means for the regeneration of economic life and the liberation of humanity from taxes, from economic With great regret we record the death of Mr Fred S. slavery and from the evils of monopoly ? Few, indeed. Wallace, editor of the Coshocton (Ohio) Daily Tribune. On the other hand, many people still read, and will for some By a tragic coincidence the extract from one of his leading time continue to read, these warm and vivid books, written articles, which was reproduced in our September issue, was in a language pleasing to cultivated persons, who like to think the last he wrote. We extend our sympathies to his son, that what they are reading is science and not propaganda. Mr Robert B. Wallace, who succeeds him in the editorial The Henry George Foundation is administered by the Com- chair. * * mittee for the Taxation of Land Values and publishes * George's works at extremely low prices. This handsome BOOK RECEIVED. A new work by Francis Neilson, volume of 450 pp., full bound in red cloth, is offered at the Control from the Top, published at $1.50 by G. P. Putnam's equivalent, at current rates, of lire. Progress and Sons, New York. In 190 pages the author deals with the Poverty is obtainable at one shilling. Since Henry George's Industrial Discipline, a New Deal and a Planned Society works form part of a still living stream of practical thought and all that this means in the restrictions of economic the undertaking of the Foundation deserves praise. liberty. LAND & LIBERTY 335

NEWS OF THE MOVEMENT

THE UNITED COMMITTEE FOR THE TAXATION OF LAND By favour of the District Offices of the Workers' Educational VALUES, LTD., 94 Petty France, London, S.W.l. Secretary : Association, copies of our Essay Prospectus have been sent for A. W. Madsen ; Assistant Secretary, F. C. R. Douglas ; distribution among students at the classes to all branch secre- Hon. Treasurers, W. R. Lester and C. E. Crompton. (Tele- taries and tutors numbering nearly a thousand. In this way grams : " Eulav, Sowest, London." Telephone : Victoria we have reached out to a big and promising constituency. To 4308.) the library at each District Office presentation has been made The Address by Henry George, Thou Shalt not Steal, has been of four of Henry George's works so that they may be lent to republished from new type and we are glad to have this popular students likely to take part. pamphlet in circulation again. Awaiting the reprint, consider- It would be impossible, except in far more space than can be able advance orders for it have accumulated. The edition is afforded, to describe the " traffic " handled by this office in companion to the other Addresses—The Crime of Poverty, letters from correspondents bearing requests- for services of all Scotland and Scotsmen, Thy Kingdom Come, Moses, and Justice kinds, or follow it to the activities it feeds. Of the 620 letters the Object—Taxation the Means. Price Id. each, or (post paid) mentioned above, 130 were from overseas. These latter belong 9d. per dozen and 6s. 6d. per 100 ; Overseas, Is. per dozen and to the province of the International Union for Land Value 8s. per 100. Taxation and Free Trade. As was stated some months ago in The new edition of The Condition of Labour has been delayed Land & Liberty, this international correspondence is in a real by reproofing due to the incorporation of added matter. With sense an international conference that is constantly in session ; its introduction, its index and its new appendices containing and in the last eight weeks of it no fewer than 21 different the Statement of Dr Edward McGlynn, the Essay on the Land countries are represented. But it is all part of the day-to-day Question by Bishop Nulty, and a striking passage from the work for which the United Committee's staff is responsible, as Encyclical of Pope Pius XI, this edition provides matter not it is responsible for the work connected with the Henry George found in any of its predecessors. It will be ready early in Foundation. December. One correspondent asks for literature on a given aspect of At the Social Gathering held on 21st November (Mrs F. C. R. the question, another requires particulars to help him in debate Douglas in the Chair), Mr Harry Clements spoke with much or controversy ; or some point in a newspaper correspondence instruction on " Nature Cure as a Social Philosophy." Although needs to be dealt with ; suggestions are sought for local propa- the talk dealt rather with the individual as invalid, it gave the ganda and we are asked to provide introduction to others in audience a perfect analogy between the remedies that are the district who may join in ; in four cases copies of a draft attempted for the economic ills of the body politic and the Bill for a Land Value Tax are desired for local Parliamentary idea that the " nature cure " is to allow natural resources to debating societies ; and so on. The demands are of the most be drawn upon and developed—that palliatives but shift the varied description. Many of the letters take the form of a disease from one place to another, or make new diseases. consultation on some special piece of writing, with manuscript On Saturday afternoon, 25th November, a large company submitted for observations or criticisms. In this regard, a received Mrs Anna George de Mille as guest, with Mr Alex. number of co-workers are busy on books or pamphlets intended Mackendrick in the Chair. There were three hours of interesting for publication and Petty France is their reference library for conversations preceded by a homely but eloquent speech by much material, especially in respect to the practical application Mrs de Mille, who made a deep impression with the wonderful of the policy. picture she drew of reminiscences of her father, Henry George. Attention to similar matters arises day by day in interviews The following affirmative replies were received to the question- with callers who come from far and near, and frequently from naire sent to Parliamentary candidates in the recent by-elections : overseas, or in the inquiries and requests for information by the Market Harborough : William Bennett (Lab.), W. Carey Wilson telephone. Very much valuable propaganda is started or (Lib.) ; Rusholme : Dr Percy McDougall (Ind.), Geo. S. Woods assisted in these conversations. (Lab.). A.t Rutland and Stamford, Lord Willoughby de Eresby Besides our regular contact with the associated Leagues, we (Con.) replied in the negative. Mr Arnold Gray (Lab.) replied welcome many new agencies making opinion for our principle to the questions as to whether he was in favour of the rating and policy by discussion, by study circles, by circulation of the of land values and the taxation of land values in the affirmative. Journal and its literature, by newspaper correspondence and In reply to the question whether he was in favour of the pro- every proper avenue to the public mind. What is wanted is visions of the Finance Act 1931 (now suspended) being put into the space that would enable our correspondents to speak for operation, he said : " Yes—but in respect of agricultural land themselves, and show what they are doing. Without that no he stands by the original proposal in the Labour Party Agricul- review of this side of the office business can be adequate. tural policy, that we should purchase on the basis of the Income It is a privilege to render service that helps these activities. Tax net figure in Schedule A." How to develop them further is a question that rests with all * * * who have the good work at heart and the means to promote it. Arrangements are being made for one month's advertising, This is not only a matter of the much-needed financial support by display cards, at the bookstalls of the main railway stations for the sake of better equipment. There is also the help that throughout the country and the placing of Henry George's works can be given by increasing the circulation of Land &• Liberty— on sale there. to take copies for passing on to others or to send us lists of The Sunday Referee of 19th November carried a well-placed names and addresses for the posting of copies from the office. advertisement of Progress and Poverty, and in an editorial note Every new reader is a potential crusader for the cause and many reproduced the advertisement that appeared in its columns have been recently entrained by getting the Journal from some 50 years ago when the 50th thousand edition was announced. friend who has been distributing the extra copies obtained from Altogether 2,350 books, 5,220 pamphlets and 85,900 leaflets us for just such purpose. were dispatched from the office during the eight weeks to 25th A. W. M. November. This is apart from the books issued to the book- selling trade on sale or return. It is good to see the literature ENGLISH LEAGUE : Frederick Verinder, General Secretary, going out in such quantity on its mission and over such a wide- 7 St. Martin's Place, Trafalgar Square, London, W.C.2. spread area. The dispatches went in 190 separate parcels to ('Phone : Temple Bar 7830.) so many separate addresses, besides the many hundred smaller packets of one or two books or pamphlets at a time. Meetings held since those recorded in last month's issue The outward mail in these eight weeks, exclusive of circulars include : T. Atholl Robertson, F.R.G.S., at Village Hall, Potters by way of general propaganda and postal advertising, counted Bar, and at Wood Green Liberal Association ; Charles Bevan, 1,240 letters. There were 620 incoming letters each requiring B.Sc., at East Leyton Women's Liberal Association, North individual attention and leading to correspondence with others, Hammersmith Women's Liberal Association, West Fulham the balance of outgoing letters being our own approaches to Liberal Association, North-East Bethnal Green League of Young subscribers and co-workers for reply on their part. Liberals, North Tottenham Women's Liberal Association and Postages of circulars included one to 800 correspondents South-West Bethnal Green Women's Liberal Association ; H. G. asking assistance in the distribution of leaflets at the recent Chancellor, to Leytonstone Unemployed ; A. C. Blackburn, at municipal elections. Another (on 10th November) was addressed Central Wandsworth Labour Party (Women's Section), and to to all the branches of the Co-operative Party and to all the Brixton Men's Co-operative Guild ; Fredk. Verinder, at William Co-operative Societies that conduct education classes. Specimen Morris Hall, Walthamstow. copy of Protection or Free Trade was sent, with recommendation The Sunday Evening Meetings in the Lecture Room at the that it was the text-book deserving study. The response has been League's Headquarters will be continued on the first three remarkable, the orders coming by every post for 6 or 12 or more Sundays of December at 8 p.m. copies at a time, and they continue to flow, so that it is too early yet to judge the ultimate result of this piece of postal 3rd Dec. Mr. John Stuart Barr, " The Place of Marx in advertising. It is sufficient to notice the ready demand for the Modern Politics." book from quarters where its message will help so effectively 10th „ Mrs W. Symons, " The Douglas Social Credit Pro- to make opinion for the real Free Trade we stand for. posals." 326 LAND & LIBERTY SEPTEMBER, 1933

17th Dec. Mr V. A. Skeffington, " The Immediate Measures of SCOTTISH LEAGUE: William Reid, Secretary, 150 North the next Socialist Government." Street, Glasgow, C.3. No meetings on. Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve (24th and The League held the Annual Henry George Commemoration 31st December). Meeting on Friday, 3rd November, in the Liberal Club, Glasgow. Mrs Anna George de Mille, daughter of Henry George, took A statement on World Muddle, prepared by the President and the Chair at the meeting on 26th November, when Mr G. D. Secretary, was put before the meeting with suggested solutions. Hardie, M.P., lectured on " Mining and Muddling." The statement is now in pamphlet form, and can be obtained Mr T. Atholl Robertson debated the Taxation of Land Values at above address, price 2d. on 29th November with Mr M. W. Beaumont, Conservative M.P. Captain A. R. McDougal had an interesting evening with the for Aylesbury, at the National Liberal Club. The meeting was Glasgow Parliamentary Debating Association on Thursday, 19th arranged by the London Liberal Federation. October, when he put the Georgeist position as against the creeds A meeting of Liberals, to discuss the Taxation of Land Values of Labourism and Protectionism. He has also had some interest- and its place in the Liberal programme, is to be held in the ing correspondence in the newspapers in the same strain, notably small Committee Room, National Liberal Club, on Wednesday, in the Scottish Farmer and the Border Telegraph. 6th December, at 8 p.m., Mr H. G. Chancellor in the Chair. The The League's usual newspaper correspondents have continued meeting is convened, on behalf of the League, by Messrs Atholl writing to the papers in the past month with the exception of Robertson, C. Bevan, and E. Ingledew. Mr John Peter, M.A., who is just now recovering from a pro- Miss Lapin will lecture to the Whitechapel Liberal Association longed illness. Messrs A. J. Mace, Alex Campbell, the Secretary on Thursday, 7th December, at 22 Osborne Street, at 8 45 p.m. and others have taken advantage of opportunities which came The Economic Class, conducted by Mr A. MacLaren on their way in Glasgow, Clydebank and Edinburgh newspapers. Tuesdays at 8 p.m., continues to flourish both in numbers and The Secretary is booked for a forenoon meeting of Postal in interest. The large room at League Headquarters is filled workers on 18th December. His subject is, " The Land Question with students at each meeting. Mrs Anna George de Mille still the Most Important Question." paid a visit to the class on 28th November, and spoke with A Study Circle is being held in the Room at above address on enthusiastic approval of the work which is being done there. Friday evenings. Some new and detached young men have Specimens of the method of " Pictorial Statistics," devised by promised to attend. One or two are well informed, so far as Dr Neurath of Vienna, are on exhibition at the League's Office. the literature of Henry George is concerned, although they have not yet emerged from obscurity. HENRY GEORGE COMMEMORATION MANCHESTER LEAGUE : Arthur H. Weller, J.P., Secretary, DINNER 4 Piccadilly, Manchester. ('Phone : City 5527.) Meetings have been addressed as follows : Broughton P.S.A. On the 10th of November, at Gatti's Restaurant, London, Brotherhood, A. H. Weller ; Radcliffe M.C.G., A. H. Weller : the English League held a successful Henry George Commemo- Crewe W.C.G., A. H. Weller ; Coppull Joint Guild, A. H. ration Dinner, which celebrated also the 50th anniversary of Weller ; Preston W.C.G., Mrs Catterall ; Levenshulme W.C.G., the League. The guests of the evening were Mrs Anna George A. H. Weller ; Blackrod Labour Party, A. H. Weller ; Tyldesley de Mille and Mr Andrew MacLaren, ex-M.P. Labour Women, E. M. Ginders; Cleveleys Men's Debating Mr E. Belfour, J.P., President of the League, who presided, Society, A. H. Weller; Accrington Discussion Class, A. H. gave the toast " The Immortal Memory of Henry George," Weller ; Marple Labour Partv, A. H. Weller ; Winton M.C.G., coupled with the name of Mrs de Mille, and expressed the D. Catterall ; Stockport W.C.G., G. Wright; Lower Kersal pleasure they had in welcoming the daughter of the man they W.C.G., Mrs Catterall; Accrington W.C.G., Mrs Catterall. all held in such honour. At no time in our history, he said, had the social problem been so acute, but if the nations had followed the The second meeting of the Discussion Class was held in the teaching of Henry George these problems would never have arisen. League's Office on 23rd November and conducted by Mr D. Vast quantities of wealth were being produced with greater Catterall. On the next occasion, 7th December, Mr E. Boyle ease than ever, yet 25,000,000 people were on the poverty level will lead the discussion. Readers of these notes are invited to unable to profit from the marvellous inventions of the age. attend these meetings, which are held fortnightly, commencing at 7.45 p.m. Entrance at side door in Hope Street. Mrs Anna George de Mille, responding, paid a graceful tribute Favourable replies were received from a considerable number to the loyal and brave work of Mr Fredk. Verinder in the 49 of municipal candidates to whom the League's questionnaire years he had devoted to the cause as Secretary of the League. was gent. Included in the number were two Conservatives. Speaking of the movement in the States, she mentioned, among Under the auspices of the Manchester Henry George Club many incidents or developments, the triumph of Mr William (Miss Peggy Noble, Hon. Secretary, 13 Orthes Grove, Heaton McNair, who had just been elected Mayor of Pittsburgh ; the Chapel) a Public Meeting addressed by Mr D. J. J. Owen is Henry George Congress at Chicago that she had attended ; the being held at Hailwood's Restaurant, 14 Piccadilly, on 6th numerous Radio addresses that were being given by Mr Chas. H-. December—subject: "The Failure of National Planning." Ingersoll; the educational work of the Henry George School of Social Science, conducted by Mr Oscar Geiger. She urged In the absence of an official Liberal candidate in the by- more and more effort on the part of all who understood how election at Rusholme (21st November) Dr Percy McDougall, civilization, now standing actually with its back against the wall, the Treasurer of the Manchester League, stood as an Independent could be rescued and saved. Radical with the unofficial support of local Liberals and friends. Colleagues from London, Keighley, Leeds, Penistone, Clitheroe Mr Andrew MacLaren, giving the toast of " Our Cause," and elsewhere also came to his assistance. Coming in almost dealt with the failure of the Economic Conference and the at the last moment, and lacking the necessary organization, it reason for it, and like unto that failure was the certain outcome was not surprising to find his name at the bottom of the list of the American Experiment to put industry on its feet without when the votes were cast. But his courage and his unusual providing the ground to stand upon. The advisers of Govern- methods attracted the special attention of the Press, and he ments, whether democracies or dictatorships, saw only monetary and the cause for which he fought figured daily and prominently causes at work, where they did not also put part of the blame in Liberal, Labour and Tory newspapers. Dr McDougall's chief upon the growth of tariffs and trade restrictions. He sketched aim, as set forth in his election address, was : To achieve equality the unprecedented speculation in land values that passed like of opportunity through the destruction of Land Monopoly— a great wave over the United States and its inevitable results. " the great disease in the body politic." Boldly and emphatic- It was all so obvious, but the Press had shed no light on these ally he declared on his platforms, " I am a Henry George Single happenings. Never a word said about the land boom and the Taxer," and 2,503 voters gave him support as such. It was a crash that came of it ; all they ventured to say was there was period of ten days' strenuous propaganda for the Taxation of something inherently bad in the American banking system. Land Values. Turning to the unemployment in our own midst, what had been done ? In 7 J years, from 1924 to 1931, more than £700,000,000 YORKSHIRE AND NORTHERN LEAGUE : F. Skirrow, Secre- had been spent on schemes of public works. At the beginning tary, Compton Buildings, Bow Street, Keighley. of that period the unemployed counted 1,600,000 and at the Meetings addressed include : Fred Adams, at Cudworth; end of it there were 2,800,000 out of work. Who had benefited ? For reply let them consult the advertisements of the land agents P. V. Olver, Carlton Hill Branch of Leeds W.C.G.; The or the estates column of The Times any day and realize what Secretary, East Hunslet Labour Party; A. W. Dakers, Lyne- fortunes have been showered upon the owners of land that has mouth W.C.G., Monkseaton (Sisterhood), and Felling W.C.G. been increased in value by these public improvements. The W. G. Taylor has had letters in Sheffield papers. cause of industrial depression everywhere was revealed, and . During the Skipton by-election leaflets were distributed at their task was to work for the overthrow of the land monopoly. meetings in the principal towns in the division. The Secretary, E. Renton (Leeds), and F. Adams and Louis Mr Herbert A. Berens, Hon. Treasurer of the League, responded. Smith (Penistone) took part in the Rusholme by-election in Speeches followed from Mr George A. Millar of New York, Mr support of Dr McDougall. Verinder and Mr Atholl Robertson, who in conclusion called for a Mr Charles H. Smithson, past-president of the League, was vote of thanks to the chairman, the oldest in years but youngest a very welcome visitor to our weekly discussion on Monday, in zeal and spirit among them. 13th November. It was good news to us all to learn that having During the evening pianoforte selections were rendered by returned to Yorkshire from the South, he is again resident in Mr Baptist Toner, and the singing of the " Land Song " ended Halifax, and intends to take an active part in the work of the proceedings. the League. SEPTEMBER, 1933 LAND & LIBERTY 327

MIDLAND LEAGUE : Chapman Wright, Hon. Secretary, 20 | are taking up the reading of our text-book Progress and Poverty Cannon Street, Birmingham 2. for the first time. Keen questions and discussion follow each Our members heartily congratulate Couucillor G. F. Sawyer lecture. on his successful re-election to the Birmingham City Council by The subjects and lecturers to the end of January are : 6th the sweeping majority of 2,283 votes ; also Councillor R. R. December (Mr A. H. Stoakes), Population and Subsistence ; Fairbairn, J.P., who headed the poll at Worcester in a keenly- 20th December, The Law of Rent, illustrated by diagrams (Mr A. contested three-cornered fight. W. Madsen) ; 17th January (Mr. J. H. McGuigan), Interest and j Wages ; 31st January (Mr F. C. R. Douglas), Material Progress The Civil Servants, who attended a mass meeting on 18th ; and Maldistribution of Wealth. The Class is to continue till November in protest against inadequate pay, had the opportunity 9th May, fortnightly, going steadily through the text-book. of realizing the real remedy for their complaint from a thousand leaflets and cards published by the League and handed to them On the 8th November Mr A. W. Madsen dealt with Capital by some of our members who were present. and Wages, and on 22nd Mr J. H. McGuigan followed with the chapters that discuss and prove that wages are not drawn from We were pleased to have visits from Mr H. Humphreys and capital nor labourers maintained by capital. Mr T. Poole of Walsall, who along with a number of others in It is gratifying to see how much interest is being taken in the their district are doing very valuable work for the Henry George Class and to have Progress and Poverty in the hands of so many teaching. They have been much in touch with the United new students. All readers in Portsmouth district are invited Committee's office. Arrangements are now in hand for meetings to join and recruit their friends. to be addressed by the Secretary of this League.

LIVERPOOL LEAGUE : F. R. Jones, Hon. Secretary, 21 High- CARLISLE field Crescent, Rock Ferry, Cheshire. J. T., Hastings, writes : The following meetings have been addressed bv our speakers : A further supply of pamphlets—Unemployed and the Land, O. B. Sweeney: Seaforth C.M.G. ; E. J. McManus: Walton and Thy Kingdom Come—have been wisely distributed among C.M.G., Birkenhead C.M.G., Seaforth C.M.G., and Dingle the unemployed. Co-operative Joint Guild ; the Secretary : Liverpool Esperanto The economic question—or shall I say poverty ?—is forcing Society, West Derby Labour Club, Formby C.M.G. them to seek out the underlying causes of their trouble. At the Esperanto Society on 7th November the address and When one realizes Henry George's world-wide problem of discussion were entirely in Esperanto, before an audience of 1879, and studies the present-day crisis, one must see the truth about 50 people. of the following lines :— The following addresses have been given at our meeting room, Pray folks out of temptation whilst driving them in, 21 Harrington Street, on Wednesday evenings : Mr Tait on Is the usual way to atone for the sin, " Distribution " ; general discussion on " Economic Problems " ; To feed the effect, while fighting the cause, the Secretary on " Democracy " ; and a reading from The You will find the foundation of most of our laws. Perplexed Philosopher. In the Birkenhead News each Saturday there is at present appearing under the " Economic Forum '' an examination of the FORM OF BEQUEST economic doctrines of Karl Marx. Mr Williams of Cardiff, a well-known Marxian writer, has been drawn into the discussion. I bequeath (free of duty) to the United Committee for Any who wish to obtain a precise knowledge of Marx's ideas in the Taxation of Land Values, Limited, the sum of relation to our own should follow this series, to which is attached £ and I declare that the receipt of the a treatment of other problems of topical interest. Treasurer or Treasurers for the time being of that Company shall be a sufficient discharge to my Trustees, who shall WELSH LEAGUE : Eustace A. Davies, Hon. Secretary, 27 Park Place, Cardiff. not be concerned to see the application of such legacy. Mr C. A. Gardner, who is also a member of the Cardiff Chamber of Trade, has been instrumental in placing our question before OUR BOOKSHELF that organization, and it is hoped that a meeting of the Chamber will be arranged early next year whereat Mr Gardner will propose •Progress and Poverty. Bv HENRY GEORGE. Cloth, Is. ; a resolution for the consideration of the meeting. We are superior rexine, 2s. ; leather cloth limp binding, gilt top indebted to Mr Gardner for his energetic efforts in connection and gold lettering, 3s. with this matter. "•Protection or Free Trade. By HENRY GEORGE. Abridged The Henry George Study Circle has resumed its meetings, and Edition. Cloth, Is. ; paper, 6d. these will continue to be held at 27 Park Place, Cardiff, on •Social Problems. By HENRY GEORGE. New Edition. Cloth, Monday evenings at 8 p.m. until further notice. Professor Is. ; limp rexine, 2s. Roberts is again kindly acting as leader of the class. Any The Condition of Labour. By HENRY GEORGE. Cloth, Is. members and friends interested will be very welcome. The Science of Political Economy. By HENRY GEORGE New Capt. F. Saw, our chairman, addressed a meeting of the Edition. Cloth, 2s. 6d. Grangetown Women's Co-operative Guild on 16th November, and Mr C. A. Gardner is to address a meeting of the Wesley Gems from Henry George. Selected and arranged by Rev. Regnal League, Charles Street, on the 29th November. A. C. AUCHMUTY. Cloth, Is. ; paper, 6d. Addresses by Henry George. The Crime of Poverty; Thy BRISTOL LEAGUE : J. H. S. Rowland, Hon. Secretary, Pentire, Kingdom Come; Thou Shalt Not Steal; Scotland and Wesley Avenue, Hanham. Scotsmen ; " Moses " ; Justice the Object—Taxation the Means. Id. each. Our weekly meetings (held at the Folk House, on Mondays at 7.30 p.m.) are being continued, and the course of lectures which The Philosophy of Henry George. By Prof. GEORGE GEIGER. are being given there have been followed with interest by both 103. 6d. post free. old and new members. The Crying Injustice of our Rating System and the Remedy. The local press now reports these meetings week by week. By FREDK. VERINDER. Id. All the local papers, as well as the West Country edition of the Agriculture and Land Value Taxation. By F. C. R. DOUGLAS, News-Chronicle, published a short paragraph drawing attention M.A., Capt. A. R. MCDOUGAL (Tenant Farmer), and JAMES to the Henry George Prize Essay Competition. The result was SCOTT, SS.C. Id. a gratifying number of applications for the prospectuses. Mr E. J. Brierley has addressed the Bristol Vegetarian Society The New Political Economy. By JOHN B. SHARPE. Id. (" Food Reform and the Land Question "), and a number of Unemployment and the Land. By W. R. LESTER, M.A. Id. Co-operative Guilds, Labour Party Local Meetings and Adult By the same Author—NATURAL LAW IN SOCIAL LIFE 3d Schools. He is contributing a series of short articles to the WHAT is PROPERTY ? 3d. WHAT IS THE SINGLE TAX ? Id! local press, including the Citizen (Co-operative monthly), the Land Value Taxation in Practice. New South Wales By Bristol Guardian and Gazette and other papers. Aid. J. R. FIRTH, Mayor of Strathfield, Sydney. Id. Newspaper correspondence has also been continued and we are The Life of Henry George. By HENRY GEORGE, Jnr. New hoping to carry it on still more vigorously. The correspondence Edition. Cloth, 5s. columns are being scrutinized, so that all letters that bear, however remotely, on the Land Question, may be answered. The Prophet of San Francisco. Personal Memories and Inter- pretations of Henry George. By Louis F POST Cloth, 8s. PORTSMOUTH LEAGUE: S. R. Cole, Hon. Secretary, 165 Francis Avenue, Southport. What is the Single Tax ? By Louis F. POST. Cloth, 2s. Pioneers of Land Reform : Spence, Ogilvie and Paine. Cloth, 2s. The Economic Class which meets every alternate Wednesday in the Wesley Central Hall, Fratton Road, is being well attended, * Three of any of the books so marked at 3s. post free, or four the majority of the students being young men and women who for 3s. 9d. post free—and 6d. extra to addressses overseas. 328 DECEMBER, 1933 THE ACME WISE MEN WRINGER 16 inch 43/- WEAR A 14 inch 39/- COMPLETE WITH MANGLING BOARD LITESOME BELT

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