The American Experiment LAND & LIBERTY MONTHLY JOURNAL FOR LAND VALUE TAXATION AND FREE TRADE

Fortieth Year.-No. 474. NOVEMBER, 1933. Id. By Post. 2s. per annum.

Mr Baldwin on the Government's Record. Back to Handwork. The first of a new series of political talks on the The new government of Germany appears to be wireless was opened by Mr Baldwin on 12th October. carrying the principle of protectionism to its logical It was mainly a panegyric on the tariffs, quotas, trade conclusion. By an Act of 15th July it has prohibited agreements and other restrictive devices introduced by the installation of any further machines for rolling the National Government. According to Mr Baldwin, tobacco leaves and the restarting of any established our export trade has held its own and our industries machinery which had stopped working. A still more are in a far better position to compete with the foreigner drastic step has been taken by the Commissioner for than they were two years ago, thanks to tariffs. It Economy in Thuringia in prohibiting the installation of may therefore be of interest to give the Board of Trade new machinery likely to take the place of glassblowers, figures of imports and exports for the first nine months and in restricting the time during which machines may of this year as compared with previous years (in be worked to 48 hours per week although many under- millions of £) :— takings had been working three shifts. Net Imports The American and the British and other governments First Nine (Re-exports British are committed in one form or another to the same form months. deducted). Exports. of lunacy. It only remains for someone to suggest that 1928 794-5 5350 the problem of unemployment is to be solved by going 1929 812-8 543-4 back to the hand-loom and the stage coach, and that 1930 ... 717-5 4411 the land should be cultivated with spades, or, even 1931 573 1 292-4 better, with toothpicks. 1932 ... 481-2 271-1 1933 ... 4507 268-4 The Government's Policy injures the Farmer. We can understand why Mr Baldwin selected 1931 In an interesting letter in the Glasgow Herald as his basis for comparison, though even on that basis (14th October) Capt. Arthur R. McDougal points out the figures are depressing. So far as the principle of that the actions of the Government absolutely ignore Free Trade is concerned there is no reason why the the fact that the vast majority of farmers are tenants, comparison should not extend further back than 1931, and the net result of the quotas, subsidies, tariffs and in which case it is still more detrimental to the pro- marketing schemes is to maintain or increase rent. tectionist standpoint. The only thing that can help the farmer and farm worker As far as quotas are concerned, we published recently is a heavy reduction of rent. He goes on to say :— figures showing the effect of the wheat policy in Scot- " It is interesting to note that in 1833 a Government land, where although the area under wheat had gone inquiry was held on the agricultural distress then up, the area under oats and barley had gone down. No prevalent under the Corn Laws, which prohibited the extra labour had been employed, but the subsidy import of wheat if under 70s. a quarter. Mr R. Hope, amounted to about £350,000. of Fenton Barns, East Lothian, stated in evidence that In short, the policy of the National Government is the cause of the distress was ' that they were paying in to increase costs, not to increase wealth. rent what they ought to have paid in wages.' He further said : ' The present duty gives the farmers an The Effect of Tariffs on Cost of Production. expectation that something is to come to their relief that The object of tariffs is to raise prices. Increase of can never arrive, and on that account it holds up the prices means increase of costs of raw materials, of value of land fictitiously. Since farmers cannot turn machinery and tools of production and ultimately of themselves to other occupations, the competition for finished articles. In some cases the rise in prices has farms has kept up rents. . . .' been masked by the world fall in the price of raw " Exactly the same thing is happening now, one materials. Where external prices have not fallen the hundred years later. The hope or prospect of benefits rise in internal prices has already been apparent. Mr to flow from the Government's policy of restriction and Ranald M. Findlay, in a recent article on this question, tariffs is being used as a reason for refusing reduction mentions that " timber, rope, iron and steel materials, of rents and is misleading farmers into offering impossibly chemicals, paints, papers, wire, tin, lead, copper, wood- high rents, and the Government hope to make the con- work tools, machine tools and parts, and apparatus of sumer pay. In other words, the hardship of the farming various kinds, specialty products of the foreigner, are community and the consuming masses is to be the price among the goods which have cost users more as a result for maintaining fictitious land values. of the new tariffs." " The Farmers' Union ought to have stressed these He also points out that although employment in the points, and would have done so ten years ago. But the June quarter was alleged to be 400,000 more than in Farmers' Union now is almost completely dominated the same quarter of a year ago, the volume of production by the occupying owner and has ceased to represent was the same. " Is it possible that under tariffs it the plain tenant-farmer. The cry of ' Help the Farmer ' takes 400,000 more hands to produce the same amount is hypocritical and misleading. The present policy only of goods as formerly 1 Is there any other conclusion to uses the farmer as a stalking horse or catspaw in order be drawn ? " to cover the Government's appalling policy of food 306 LAND & LIBERTY SEPTEMBER, 1933

taxation SQ that the bondholders may be safe. It is The number of persons displaced would be 6,740. The clear that the position of the farmer who buys or rents Report says :— land on the faith of fictitious values produced by " A real difficulty has been encountered in finding restriction, tariffs and subsidies will be very dangerous and unstable. The plain tenant-farmer, then, is really land for rehousing purposes. Land in Stockport is seriously injured already by the Government's scarce, and is also expensive. A most important part agricultural policy." of slum clearance is the rehousing of displaced tenants as near to their work as reasonably possible, and at rentals they can afford. Recent investigation into the Slum Clearance "Ten Years Too Soon." circumstances of rehoused tenants has suggested that Speaking at Morley College (London) on 12th October, the increased rents of Council houses may have a most Sir Ernest Simon said that although two million houses undesirable effect on the health of the family, as the had been built in England and Wales since the War family budget is lowered at the expense of food. the pressure on the slums had not been reduced. There Possibly a partial solution of the rent problem is the were not enough new houses yet, and they were not relaxation of the standard of twelve houses per acre. cheap enough for working-class people. Owing to the high cost of land, of street works and The number of families had increased at a greater sewering, it is cheaper to build 16 houses to the acre rate than the number of houses. Statistics showed that than 12, and therefore it is possible to let them at a in 1931 there was a shortage of 800,000 houses, in more economic rental." addition to which the probable growth of families in As to the scarce and expensive land in Stockport, we the next decade would require another 700,000 houses look to the White Paper 119, published in 1913, to find by 1941. that there were then no fewer than 2,650 acres of " agri- There were a million families who could not afford cultural land " in Stockport out of its total area of 5,485 an inclusive rent of more than 7s. a week. The objection acres. It is evident that a very large portion of this to concentrating on slum clearance was that, since over- land must still remain unbuilt upon, and does not now crowding was as great as ever, when a slum house was pay even the modicum of rates it paid in 1912. Hence pulled down there was no alternative accommodation the dearness, if not the scarcity. for the tenants. He said that the energy of the Minister of Health Trinity College (Cambridge) Land Purchase. was being tragically misdirected, doing what would only be valuable in ten years' time. What is described as one of the most important Sir Ernest Simon's criticism is so far valuable and transactions in English landed property this year is effective. The problem is one of low wages and high the purchase by Trinity College, Cambridge, of nearly rents, but for that he offers no constructive remedy, 4,000 acres, six miles from Ipswich. It is the Trimley but only a plea for more subsidies to artificially reduce and Walton portion of Mr Pretyman's Orwell Park rents and palliate poverty. estate, and includes 17 farms and many small holdings and houses and cottages, and there are many miles of Happy Penryn—No Borough Rates. frontage to the main road from Felixstowe to Ipswich. The rent roll is almost £5,000 a year. For the second half-year in succession the citizens The Cambridge Daily News (26th August) says : " The of the little Cornish town of Penryn will not be required transaction is important not only because of the area to pay any borough rate. This is due to the income of land and the amount of money involved, but even which the borough receives from quay dues and borough more as an indication of the growing tendency of property being sufficient to meet the local expenditure. corporate bodies to look to real estate of the agricultural The Observer comments that the only fly in the ointment type as a sound permanent investment." Somewhat is that the ratepayers have to pay a county rate of similar observations are made by the Investors' Chronicle. 5s. Id. There is unfortunately another : the fact that One of the most serious aspects of the matter is that there is nothing to prevent the landlords absorbing the it will give to this important educational body, whose benefit of this advantage in higher rents. According views ought to be impartial, a vested interest in the to the Parliamentary Return of 1913 (White Paper 119), wheat subsidy, quotas and other restrictions which are out of a total area of 290 acres almost two-thirds were increasing the price of the people's food for the benefit rated as agricultural land. Since the legislation of of landowners. The letters in the Press and the memo- 1929 agricultural land pays no rates. It will not pay randa circulated to members of Parliament by such the county rate, and we can be quite sure that the bodies at the time of the Snowden Budget are some owners will not allow those who desire to live in " happy indication of how sensitive such investments make them Penryn " to do so without paying them full measure to their own pecuniary interest and how insensitive to for all its advantages. the interest of the public. Is it equitable that the owners of thousands of acres The Slums of Stockport. of valuable farm lands and " miles of frontage to the The Annual Report for 1932 of the Medical Officer main road " should enjoy a permanent exemption from of Health for Stockport, Dr E. K. Macdonald, deals at rates and taxes, and unrestricted freedom to speculate length with the housing conditions in the Borough. A for a rise in land values ? special investigation was made of the housing conditions of tuberculosis patients in one quarter of the town. Boosting Land Speculation. Out of 222 families, 102 were overcrowded on the A skilful endeavour to induce people with money to standard of more than two persons per bedroom. In invest in land is to be found in a recently published 70 instances three or more persons occupied one bed- booklet, entitled Land Development, by Mr C. R. Styles room. Every active case of tuberculosis ought to have (F. C. Mathieson & Sons, price Is.). While picturing a separate bedroom. Often the breadwinner is the the advantages and beauties of living in the country, patient, and he is absolutely unable to afford the the author is still more anxious to depict the profits necessarily high rent. accruing from land speculation. He says : " Hundreds Dealing with the slum clearance programme, he of estates, not only near London but in the provinces, reports that 20 clearance and 14 improvement schemes are being broken up—sold for agricultural prices and require to be scheduled during the next five years. re-sold, after planning and developing dwelling facilities, NOVEMBER, 1933 LAND & LIBERTY 307 at prices which must make the old-time owner wonder increase of urban land values which has taken place in at what miracle has taken place that should add such all these countries. Those who have profited by this a huge increment of value to the property out of which great accretion of community made value have bought he could not even make a living." He gives some up great estates in the country. The exemption of examples : " The development of the recently little- land values from taxation and the concentration of known village of Angmering, in Sussex, is typical of taxation on the workers, including working farmers, what is coming. Land has increased astonishingly in has been another reason. value, being reckoned on the costly per foot basis ; yet not so many years back Angmering-on-Sea was but In the United States also. a collection of little cottages with a couple of lanes In this connection it is important to notice what leading to the sea. . . . Bognor Regis is another case effect the Roosevelt New Deal will have. Its principal of sudden post-war development, following the residence feature is the restriction of production of farm products, of His Majesty in the neighbourhood in seeking recovery secured by payments made to the farmers for keeping from a severe illness. Take such a spot as Clymping, their land idle. The revenue to secure this is being a charming stretch of beautiful sand lying between obtained from taxes on farm products which will be Littlehampton and Bognor. The land about is tightly paid by consumers. held for the time being. One day it will be broken up The Fairhope Courier (Alabama) states that of the and sold to the vast benefit of the people and to the farmers in that State more than 65 per cent are tenants, profit of the enterprising land company. . . . All something more than that in Mississippi, approximately Hallows, on the southern bank of the Thames, a little that in all the Southern States. up from Grain Island and looking across to Westcliff, The rental to be paid for the land to be taken out is an instance of considerable enterprise and large of cotton production will not go to the tenants, but potential increment in land values. Since the war to the owners of the land. To them also will go the a considerable acreage of frontage to a short strip of chief benefit of the higher prices for the cotton on the good sand has been acquired at agricultural price, to acres which are left in production. In this State be sold, as the scheme progresses, at many times the tenant farmers are largely cotton farmers. It is the price." only farming they know about. To take out of cotton We are not against land development. Rather we production practically a million acres will be to put want to encourage it by preventing land from being them out of jobs. Where will they find other employ- " tightly held " against the rising demand of the com- ment ? munity, and by eliminating the speculative element Dr Duncan estimates that there will come into the which makes it so dangerous an investment for the State $10,000,000 as rental for the acres taken out of small men who buy out the large speculators " on the cotton, which will go to landowners. With this lift costly per foot basis." at the cost of taxpayers and the additional millions in This pamphlet points how the development of road higher prices on cotton produced, which is expected to transport, better train services, industrial development be the result of the lessened production, there will be in the South of England, the desire of the people for a new boom on cotton land in the making just as there a healthier mode of living, have all gone to create this was when the war sent farm products soaring. " huge increment " in the value of land. And the Consumers of cotton goods all over the United States question insistently rises—Why should not the com- will pay higher prices in order to raise the price of land, munity enjoy the value which it has created ? when the real remedy for the depression was to reduce the price of land. The Drift from Farm Ownership to Farm Tenancy. For some years past it has become increasingly Australia—Reduction in Federal Land Tax. evident that the era of farm tenancy in Western Canada had definitely set in. The North Vancouver Review The Australian Commonwealth Budget, introduced by the Prime Minister and Treasurer, Mr Lyons, on states that:— 4th October, provided for remissions of income tax, of Statistics just received from the Dominion Depart- indirect taxation and of the Federal land tax. The ment of Agriculture reveal that a gradual shifting rates of land tax which had previously been reduced from land ownership towards tenancy is taking place by one-third are now reduced to one-half of the former in all provinces with the exception of Quebec, where rates. The reduction is estimated to cost the Treasury there is a slight increase in land ownership. The £400,000. shift to tenancy is particularly noticeable in the Mr Lyons stated the object of the reductions in western provinces. For example, 90'74 per cent of taxation was to stimulate employment, to reduce interest the total number of farmers in Saskatchewan were in and other costs to industry, and to reduce the cost of the landowner class in 1911, while in 1931 there were living. " The Government anticipates," he added, only 66 45 per cent in that class, a decrease of 24'29 " that these reductions will give speedy relief to a large per cent in twenty years. class of debtors and financial institutions, and where The farms are reverting to ownership and control reductions can be passed on they will enable more manifested in all its worst features, that is to say, employment to be given." " absentee ownership." The farmer will sweat away We have never regarded the method of the Federal at his daily toil and the fellow he pays his rent to may Land Tax, with its large exemptions and steep gradua- be at the same time enjoying life's pleasures as he tion, as satisfactory ; but to reduce any tax which falls sees them at Honolulu. on land value is simply to make a present of the money In 1883 Henry George pointed out in Social Problems to the landlords. This remission will not stimulate how far this tendency had already gone in the United industry. It will, if anything, stimulate speculation. States, as evidenced by the census statistics. The same This is particularly deplorable at the present moment thing had taken place at an earlier date in this country. when prices are rising in Australia. The Government Henry George quotes Lord Macaulay's observation that should have discouraged the tendency to speculation at the accession of James II in 1685 the majority of which this will engender by extending and simplifying English farmers were owners of the land they cultivated. the land tax so as to make it bear equally on all land One of the reasons for this trend is the enormous value. 308 LAND & LIBERTY NOVEMBER, 1933

LAND & LIBERTY upon them (by agreement and the pressure of public opinion meantime but with the threat of legal enforce- Published by THE UNITED COMMITTEE FOR THE ment behind) of codes of industrial remuneration aiming TAXATION OF LAND VALUES, LTD. at the increase of wages and the reduction of hours of Fortieth Year. Established June, 1894. labour. 1d. Monthly. By Post 2s. per annum. The object of these codes, as stated by General Hugh United States and Canada, 50 cents. S. Johnson in his recent address to the American Editorial Offices Federation of Labour, is "to balance consumption with 94 PETTY FRANCE, LONDON, S.W.I. our enormous potential productivity—not by reducing production but by increasing the power to consume by All communications to be addressed to the Editor. a more even distribution of the fruits of every man's Telegrams: " Eulav, Sowest, London." Telephone: Victoria 4308. endeavour." Postage on this issue is One Half-penny. The most obvious criticism is that to redistribute purchasing power does not increase the aggregate of NOVEMBER, 1933. purchasing power. A further criticism is that a mere increase of wages without alteration of the other con- ditions of production will increase costs of finished goods, THE AMERICAN EXPERIMENT and thereby cancel out the increased purchasing power (if there is any). The measures taken in the United States during the The latter criticism is in part confirmed by price past few months deserve serious consideration, not index statistics published by the Economist (21st merely because of their intrinsic interest, but even October) from which we extract the following table :— more because they constitute a gigantic experiment to cope with the economic crisis by means which find (18th Sept., 1931=100.) strenuous supporters in all parts of the world. Economist Index Irving Fisher The method adopted is a combination of three of the Price of Index of whole- different kinds of policy ; (1) Monetary inflation com- Date Primary American sale prices menced by the divorcement of the dollar from the gold Products (Dollars) (Dollars) standard, now carried a stage further by the President's 1933 announcement that the United States is to have a 3rd May 981 85-8 " managed " currency; (2) Large schemes of public 31st „ 108-5 900 works financed by government credit; (3) Compulsory 28th June 117-4 94-4 reduction of production and regulation of industry under 26th July 124-7 100-9 the direction of the Agricultural Adjustment Adminis- 23rd August ... 119-0 1021 20th September 120-7 103-7 trator and the National Recovery Administrator. 18th October 1091 (11th Oct.) 104-7 It is the third of these policies which calls for most detailed consideration. The Irving Fisher index includes many finished goods. As regards agricultural production. The steps taken It is, therefore, evident that despite the fall in the price include reduction of the cotton crop by the ploughing of primary products since July, the price of manufac- under of 10 million acres of cotton, the farmers being tured articles has steadily risen. paid a rent for the acreage removed from cultivation the General Johnson's statement of the Aims of N.R.A. revenue being raised by a processing tax on cotton used is subject, however, to a still more fundamental criticism. in manufacture of 4 cents a pound; reduction of the wheat Can any of the Roosevelt policies have any influence in acreage by payment of a bonus to the farmers, raised making the " enormous potential productivity " of the by means of a processing tax of 30 cents on each bushel United States an actuality ? of wheat ground into flour ; and reduction of the pig Paying rent for unused land and paying bonuses to supply by the government purchase and destruction of men to destroy their crops can only have the effect of six million pigs. Various States have fixed a minimum keeping up the price of land and restricting production price for fluid milk, and the Federal Government is generally. Currency depreciation always has the effect buying wheat, butter, eggs, rice, and pork for distribution of stimulating speculation, and especially speculation among the urban unemployed. in that permanent asset which lies at the root of all Although these measures together with the deprecia- production—land. Large public works schemes always tion of the currency produced a sharp rise in prices, the and in every country have the same effect, for they rise has not been maintained as the following figures almost always involve the acquisition of land, and, if will show :—- of public advantage, increase the value of the adjoining land. The net result is, therefore, to hinder production PRICES OF AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES at its source. Price, Price, Price, Commodity. 15th April. 15th July. 2nd Oct General Johnson himself in the speech referred to Wool 40285 69 065 7663 above seems on the verge of discovering this fact. Oats ... 21-75 45-75 36-25 Answering the question why the N.R.A. plan was Eggs 13-25 1500 20 00 needed, he said :— Cotton 6-70 11-40 9-90 Up to the end of the 'nineties this was still a pioneer Wheat 63 00 112-88 87-00 Corn ... 33-50 63 25 4500 country. ... In every failure there was always Butter 20 00 24-50 24-50 the beckoning of a new hope—the urge to a new try. Hogs 3-75 4-35 4-40 Despair need never come so long as health and sanity Cattle 505 600 5-60 remained and there was an open field for individual enterprise. . . . We are no longer a frontier Average ... 100-00 169-9 149-2 community. We are in the grip of an intense indus- The Government is now faced with an insistent trialization. The whole scene and surroundings have demand for more violent measures of inflation. changed. As regards manufacturing and distributive trades, But in what does that change consist ? Does " indus- the method is different. It consists in the imposition trialization " explain everything ? Is it sufficient merely NOVEMBER, 1933 LAND & LIBERTY 309 to say that this is a " new era of mass production and If what is aimed at contradicts the law of nature, it chain distribution ?" must fail, in like manner as the search for perpetual These things do not change economic law. The motion or the philosopher's stone. form may be altered but the essence remains the same. What is so alarming in the American experiment and The more acute students of economic conditions recog- in the like but less ambitious experiments being made nize this. In a remarkable article in the August issue here, is the lack of comprehension of the economic of Dun & Bradstreet's Monthly Review, Mr Roy A. principles involved. And more, the analogy to mechanical planning is defective. The growth of the Foulke emphasizes (in a passage quoted below) Henry body cannot be planned. It can only be helped or George's discovery of " the fundamental initiatory hindered by the environment in which it grows. Can cause " of industrial depression in the speculative the growth of the body politic be planned, or can it increase of land value. He then points out how the also only be helped or hindered by intelligent under- factor of land value is obscured by "an intermediate standing of the economic forces involved ? This is step in the form of a wide variety of corporate securi- the fundamental question to which the thoughts of ties." Although the fixed assets of these corporations men should be directed. include rolling stocks, pipe lines, furniture, fixtures, machinery, tools and leasehold improvements, " those Only on an understanding of economic law and of the fixed assets are primarily real estate and buildings." real forces which have warped economic development He goes on to say :— can a sound economic system be built. F. C. R. D. For several years prior to September, 1929, very substantial sums were available for purposes of corporate expansion. . . . The widespread policy A FINANCIAL EXPERT ON of investing in land in the early years of our national "PROGRESS AND POVERTY" life now came to be represented by the broader In an article entitled " Three Important Balance Sheet investment in corporate securities and the corpora- Ratios " appearing in the August issue of Dun & Brad- tions in turn invested in fixed assets in the broader street's Monthly Review (New York), Mr Roy A. Foulke, connotation of that term. The toll of these top- manager of the Analytical Department, deals with the heavy holdings in fixed assets during depressed con- elements of instability in the capitalization of corporate ditions has come to be recognized by the repossession undertakings, and with the root causes of industrial de- of real estate and buildings by mortgagees, by the pression. We quote the following noteworthy passage in which Mr Foulke draws attention to Henry George's widespread losses of corporate enterprises brought discussion on this question :— about in no small degree by the depreciation charges on excess fixed assets in times of relative inactivity, by " In the years of reconstruction and rehabilitation the payment of interest on mortgages, bonds, deben- following the speculative panic of 1873—and they were long lean years—there appeared a remarkable volume of tures, and long term notes issued to cover the cost English literature from the pen of an economist, a philo- of unwise expansion programmes. This is not new, sopher and a social thinker, a volume which was destined strange, or only theory. It is elemental. It is to be translated into almost every language of the world. business to-day. The power and inherent strength of its thoughtful restrained General Johnson says : " Forty years ago the human persuasion has placed it on a plane which has been reached by few economic treatises. That volume is Progress and failure in one undertaking could go West and take up Poverty, by Henry George. another. Now he cannot. There is nothing for him " After one of the most painstaking, broad studies of and his family but bare pavements and breadlines." primary economic theories covering the fundamental Nothing but bare pavements and breadlines, but not problems of wages and capital, of want amid plenty, because nature is no longer prolific, not because the population and subsistence based upon the Malthusian vast half continent of the United States cannot main- theory, laws of distribution, of labour condemned to tain its relatively sparse population, but because the involuntary idleness, the effect of progress upon the distri- bution of wealth, the author arrived at the consideration land is monopolized by a few, because speculation has of the bottom cause of the ever-recurring paroxysms of held land out of use and raised its price to levels which industrial depression. That fundamental cause he believed production can no longer afford to pay. to be the speculative advance in land values. In every So long as men are not prepared to apply the simple progressive community, population gradually increases, corrective which Henry George proposed, to force all and improvements succeed one another, bringing about needed land into use by taking the value of land for an increase in the value of land. That steady increase public revenue, there is no other alternative than to leads to speculative activity in which future increases are continue to suffer recurring periods of boom and to anticipated. In this manner, land values are carried beyond the point at which, under existing conditions, correct them by recurring periods of painful stagnation, the accustomed return is expected by wages and capital, liquidation and bankruptcy. It may be that in refusing an increasing proportion of income going to rent. Pro- to accept the one corrective and by interfering with the duction begins to decline at some point and this cessation other the American experiment is actually prolonging is communicated to an ever-widening circle of industrial the depression and delaying the time when production activity. There are other proximate causes such as the will rise even to the level attained in 1929. To create growing complexity and interdependence of the machinery optimism without providing a sound foundation for it of production, defects of currency and credit, protective is worse than useless. tariffs and artificial barriers to the interplay of productive forces, the pursuit of monetary profit, but beneath all Underlying the American experiment is the belief factors, according to Henry George, lies the fundamental in what is called a " planned economy," a phrase which initiatory cause in the speculative advance of land values." dominates the thinking not merely of President Roose- velt and his advisers but also of many well-intentioned FORM OF BEQUEST people in Europe as well. It is the reaction against the I bequeath (free of duty) to the United Committee for apparent anarchy of present-day economic conditions. the Taxation of Land Values, Limited, the sum of But the world cannot be ruled by mere phrases. No £ and I declare that the receipt of the building can be planned without reference to the Treasurer or Treasurers for the time being of that Company physical laws involved. No machine can be built shall be a sufficient discharge to my Trustees, who shall without knowledge of the scientific principles involved. \ not be concerned to see the application of such legacy. 310 LAND &

THE LABOUR PARTY SCOTTISH LIBERALS CO INFERENCE The annual meeting of the Scottish Liberal Federation was held at Ayr on 20th and 21st October. We put on At the Annual Conference of the Labour Party held at record the following resolutions that were adopted :— Hastings, 2nd to 6th October, the following resolutions This Conference re-affirms its belief in the Taxation standing in the name of the Cathcart (Glasgow) Labour and Rating of Land Values, believing that recovery of Party were carried unanimously :— prosperity and increased employment are retarded by This Conference has learned with regret that the tax the untaxed monopoly of land as well as by the tax on the value of land, introduced by the Labour Govern- burdens which are laid on restricted production in ment in 1931, to become operative in April, 1933, has default of communally earned land values ; it records been set aside by the National Government on the plea its conviction that it is by such approaches to freer that the valuation of land for taxation purposes is a trade that lasting improvements will be secured. costly item ; to avoid undue cost, all the Government This had been submitted by the Cathcart and the needs to do is to call on the owners of land for their own Partick Associations and was moved by Mr William Reid. estimates of the value of their holdings in land ; the On the motion of Capt. A. R. McDougal, speaking for revision of such estimates by the Inland Revenue Depart- ment would be no more costly than revision of returns the Berwick and Haddington Association, the Conference for Income Tax purposes, and this Conference records agreed to add to the above resolution :— its conviction that the land value tax could be collected That Liberal Leaders should clearly state whether this year were not the National Government unduly they intend to undertake the thorough-going Taxation friendly to the land-owning classes. of Land Values, including all land both Urban and Rural, thereby providing revenue to replace the tariff This Conference denounces all existing tariffs, quotas revenue and to provide funds for the derating of houses and embargoes, as futile for the purpose for which they and the reduction of other taxation, thus helping indus- were imposed, namely, the solution of the unemployment try ; and if this will be put in the forefront of their problem and the maintenance of the standard of living programme as a fundamental issue which is essential of the workers. to any return to prosperity. In moving the first of these resolutions, Mr Mungo A resolution was also adopted, on the motion of Capt. Fairley observed that the taxation of land values was a McDougal expressing the belief that drastic land tenure fundamental measure which could be carried through reform was a primary necessity and with which farmers quickly, without any possibility of the House of Lords could work out their own salvation. being able to frustrate it—a danger to other Labour measures which had given the Conference considerable Young Liberals anxiety. At the Conference of Scottish Young Liberals (Glasgow and District Council) held in the Scottish National Academy The following amendment to the draft report of the of Music, 12th to 14th October, a resolution was adopted Executive Committee on " Housing and Slums " stood in urging upon the Government the need of a policy of the name of the North Battersea Labour Party :— national development concurrent with the laying of a tax The important bearing of the wider policies of the upon land values. Labour Party upon the Housing Question require also to be mentioned. So far as the problem is one of inability to pay for accommodation of a decent standard, the LONDON LIBERALS raising of money wages, together with the abolition of At the meeting of the Council of the London Liberal the burdens of indirect taxation which so greatly reduce Federation held on the 23rd October in the National spending power, will enable the workers to demand a Liberal Club, a Resolution from the Wood Green Liberal better standard of accommodation. In particular, the Association, moved by Mr W. E. Bland and seconded by transfer of local rates from the present rental basis to Mr D. A. McConnell, was unanimously adopted :— land value will largely reduce the cost of housing accom- This Council solemnly protests against the action of modation, and on the other hand, by rating at its true the present Government in dropping Part III of the value land held out of use for speculation, will force land Finance Act (No. 1), 1931, with the provision for the into use and enable it to be obtained upon more reason- valuation and taxation of land values, which action has able terms. been taken without any mandate from the country. This Council further declares that in its opinion the As the report itself was withdrawn for further consider- only solution of the many problems, national and inter- ation this amendment lapsed, but an undertaking was given national, political and economic, with which we are that the viewpoint expressed in it would be considered faced to-day lies in a policy of true Free Trade, viz., the before the report was re-submitted. freedom of exchange by complete abolition of all customs A number of resolutions were submitted calling for the and excise duties, and freedom of production by taxation publication of a short pamphlet embodying a concise of land values. statement of the main planks in the Labour Party's plat- form. Several of these mentioned the taxation of land Mr. Bland spoke to the resolution in a very able and values as one of the items which should be dealt with. vigorous speech which we regret not having the space to The Conference adopted a short composite resolution report. calling for such a pamphlet, but not giving any specific direction as to the items which should be included. Pigeon fanciers in West Lothian will require to pay rates on their lofts this year. Following a wholesale round-up of the lofts for valuation purposes by the County Assessor, THE EAST FULHAM RESULT the Scottish Homing Union took the case up. They argued unsuccessfully that being movable structures the lofts Polling took place at the East Fulham (London) By- were not assessable. The values placed upon the lofts by election on 25th October. The figures were the assessor range from £1 to £5, and as fanciers are in most John Wilmot (Lab.) 17,790 cases liable for both occupiers' and owners' rates their Alderman W. J. Waldron (C.) 12,950 additional outlay will be substantial.—Glasgow Herald, 3rd October. Labour majority ...... 4,840 TO INCREASE OUR CIRCULATION. Our readers are cordially invited to gain new contacts for the Journal by The Conservative majority at the last General Election sending us names and addresses to which specimen copies was 14,521. can be posted with their recommendation—or better, to Mr Wilmot, answering a questionnaire from the United purchase each month a given number of copies for passing Committee (see p. 312), declared himself to be an enthusiastic on to interested friends. Copies for this purpose may be supporter of the Taxation of Land Values. had at 9d. per dozen post free. 311

THE JOHN PAUL TESTIMONIAL the minds of men to an appreciation of the fundamental bearing of the land question upon all social problems and of land value taxation and free trade as the key to their Presentation to Mrs Paul solution. On the evening of the 18th October, in the United In celebration of his seventieth birthday, the subscribers Committee's rooms at 94 Petty France, a large company to this Address had intended to make him a presentation of friends associated in the Testimonial that has been in token of their affection and esteem. Fate has frustrated subscribed in memory of John Paul were happy in honouring that intention, but we feel it only fitting to offer the tribute Mrs Paul as their guest. intended for him to the one who shared his convictions and Letters were received from many correspondents in aspirations, who was for so many years his devoted help- London, and many more at a distance, bearing greetings mate and companion and whose loving care sustained him and regretting inability to attend. in his arduous task. Councillor Rupert East, ex-Mayor of Aylesbury, presided. We therefore desire, Mrs Paul, to ask your acceptance Making the presentation in the name of the Organizing of this presentation with the assurance of our sincere Committee, he asked Mrs Paul to accept the Testimonial gratitude, our warm personal attachment, and our deep Album, which expressed the affection in which they held sympathy with you in your bereavement. the memory of John Paul and manifested to her not only their sympathy in her great loss, but also their appreciation of her own devoted services in the cause of Henry George. NOTES AND NEWS The memorial had to it the names of no fewer than 680 friends, these being representative adherents in 50 different The Treasurer of the United Committee acknowledges countries and states from all over the world. On their donation of 10s. from postmark " Warrington "-—no letter enclosed. behalf he asked acceptance also of the Fund that had been * * * subscribed, amounting to £520, net of expenses. The Chairman was supported in speeches from Mr Fred L. A cordial welcome is offered to Mrs Anna George de Crilly, Mr John C. Geddes of Perth, and Mr A. W. Madsen. Mille who arrived at Plymouth from New York on 26th October on a visit to England to join her daughter Agnes. Mrs Paul responded and expressed her gratitude in Mrs and Miss de Mille will be present at the Henry George gracious terms that so much good-will had been extended Commemoration Dinner at Gatti's Restaurant on 10th to her. Some brief speeches followed, and the rest of the November, held also to celebrate Frederick Verinder's evening was spent in general conversations on methods and fiftieth year of service to the Henry George Movement. plans by which each and all could best promote the move- ment. * * * The Album, beautifully executed in clear handwriting At the Brighton " Parliament " on 9th October Mr W. R. and handsomely bound in leather, was admired for its simple Lester introduced a motion in favour of putting into and dignified style. The Address is in the following terms:— operation the land clauses of the Budget of 1931 and making the valuation available for local rating purposes. To MRS JOHN PAUL There was an animated discussion, which was well reported WE, friends of John Paul in many countries, whose in the Brighton Gazette ; the motion was lost by 26 votes names are appended to this Memorial, join in paying to 30. tribute to his high character, his lovable personality and * * * his self-sacrificing devotion to the cause of human freedom. Two Points of View is an instructive conversation We honour his memory, grateful for the service he rendered between a Voter and a Candidate put together in a small and for the strength he inspired in others. pocket size booklet, 16 pages, written by Mr G. A Goodwin John Paul embraced the moral and economic teaching and published by Leigh & Williams, Prestatyn, N. Wales, of Henry George as a young man and consecrated his life from whom copies may be had at 3d. each or 2s. per dozen, to its advancement. His qualities of heart and mind soon post free. It is certainly something worth while handing placed him foremost among his fellows. He was accorded to any person interested in public affairs. that place by universal consent. It was confirmed and worthily proved by his editorship of Land & Liberty from its inception in June, 1894, by his part in the counsels of the movement at all times of decision, by his able direction OUR BOOKSHELF of a long and well-sustained campaign. *Progress and Poverty. By HENRY GEORGE. Cloth, Is. ; More than to any other man, the Henry George movement superior rexine, 2s. ; leather cloth limp binding, gilt top owes to him and his wise leadership, sound judgment, and gold lettering, 3s. unfaltering courage and unswerving attachment to principle, *Protection or Free Trade. By HENRY GEORGE. Abridged the success it has attained in moulding public opinion and Edition. Cloth, Is. ; paper, 6d. influencing political movements toward the goal of emanci- "Social Problems. By HENRY GEORGE. New Edition. Cloth, pating the people from the bonds of land monopoly and Is. ; limp rexine, 2s. establishing the just distribution of wealth and opportunity. *The Condition of Labour. By HENRY GEORGE. Cloth, Is. His work was first centred in Glasgow where, as Secretary The Science of Political Economy. By HENRY GEORGE. New of the Scottish League for the Taxation of Land Values, Edition. Cloth, 2s. 6d. he and his co-workers brought the land value policy into Gems from Henry George. Selected and arranged by Rev. the forefront of practical politics, securing for it the support A. C. AUCHMUTY. Cloth, Is. ; paper, 6d. of many hundreds of British municipalities and its inclusion Addresses by Henry George. The Crime of Poverty ; Thy in the programmes of the progressive Parties. From 1907, Kingdom Come; Thou Shalt Not Steal ; Scotland and as Secretary of the United Committee for the Taxation of Scotsmen ; " Moses " ; Justice the Object—Taxation the Land Values, his work was centred in London, reaching out Means. Id. each. not only to every part of Great Britain and Ireland, but The Philosophy of Henry George. By Prof. GEORGE GEIGER. also to the world-wide International field through the 10s. 6d. post free. connections he did so much to establish. The formation Agriculture and Land Value Taxation. By F. C. R. DOUGLAS, of public opinion which led to the adoption of land value M.A., Capt. A. R. MCDOUGAL (Tenant Farmer), and JAMES legislation on three occasions by the British House of SCOTT, SS.C. Id. Commons, the Scottish Bill in 1906, the Budget of 1909 The New Political Economy. By JOHN B. SHARPE. Id. and the Budget of 1931 ; the platform and pamphlet Unemployment and the Land. By W. R. LESTER, M.A. Id. propaganda that brought hosts of men and women to our By the same Author—NATURAL LAW IN SOCIAL LIFE. 3d. standard ; the raising of the financial support necessary WHAT IS PROPERTY ? 3d. WHAT IS THE SINGLE TAX ? Id. for an agitation on such a scale ; the success attending Land Value Taxation in Practice. New South Wales. By representative and impressive National and International Aid. J. R. FIRTH, Mayor of Strathfield, Sydney. Id. Conferences—all these practical achievements were due, in a degree that can never be fully measured, to John Paul's * Three of any of the boohs so marked at 3s. post free, or four influence through the written and spoken word, in guiding for 3s. 9d. post free—and 6d. extra to addressses overseas. 312 LAND & LIBERTY SEPTEMBER, 1933

NEWS OF THE MOVEMENT THE UNITED COMMITTEE FOR THE TAXATION OF 2nd Nov. Hampstead Labour Party (Women's Section), LAND VALUES, LTD. Secretary: A. W. Madsen, Willoughby Hall, 1 Willoughby Road : Miss 94 Petty France, London, S.W.I. Assistant Secretary : R. Lapin, " Taxation of Land Values." F. C. R. Douglas. Hon. Treasurers : W. R. Lester 3 p.m. and C. E. Crompton. (Telegrams : " Eulav, Sowest, 7th „ Shooter's Hill W.C.G., St. Luke's Hall, West- London." Telephone : Victoria 4308.) mount Road, Eltham : Miss R. Lapin, For the Municipal Elections, and for general use by way " Housing." 3 p.m. of circulation at meetings and otherwise, the Committee 8th „ North Finchley W.C.G., Trades and Labour has published a new leaflet (No. 104) entitled Tax Land- Hall, Moss Hall Grove, Ballard's Lane : Values, making an octavo sheet printed both sides. Specimen A. C. Blackburn, " Housing." 3 p.m. copies were sent to 750 active correspondents and orders 9th ,, Charlton Village W.C.G., Assembly Rooms : for considerable quantities have been received from various Fredk. Verinder, " London and its Land parts of the country. A copy of this leaflet is enclosed Values." 2.30 p.m. with this of the Journal to each of our readers. 14th „ W.C.G., Co-operative Hall, Hoe Street, Wal- A questionnaire was sent to each of the candidates at thamstow : Fredk. Verinder, " Is there a the by-elections in East Fulham, Skipton and Kilmarnock, Cure for Unemployment ? " 2.30 p.m. asking whether they were in favour of the Taxation of 15th ,, Stoke Newington Labour Party (Women's Land Values, whether they would support the demand for Section), 89 Church Street, N.16 : Fredk. putting the provisions of the Finance Act, 1931, into opera- Verinder, " The First Great Reform." 3.15 tion, and whether they favoured the levying of local rates p.m. on the value of all land whether used or not. 22nd ,, South Islington Labour Party (Women's Mr John Wilmot, Labour candidate in East Fulham, Section) : 295 Upper Street, N.l. : Fredk. replied : "As I am myself an enthusiastic supporter of these proposals the answer to each of your questions is in Verinder, " The Burden of the Rates." the affirmative." 8.30 p.m. Mr J. Percival Davies, Labour candidate for Skipton, 23rd „ Loughborough Park W.C.G., Church Hall replied : " The answer to all three questions is in the (Corner of Heme Hill Road), Loughborough affirmative—-but I refuse on principle to give anything in Junction : Fredk. Verinder, " London's the nature of a definite pledge." Rates and London's Land Values." 3 p.m. The Rev. James Barr, Labour Candidate for Kilmarnock, 27th „ Deptford Labour Party (Women's Section), replied in the affirmative, and enclosed a copy of his St. Mary's Hall, Erlam Road : A. C. Black- election address advocating the principle "that to the burn, " Housing and Unemployment." 3 community belong those land values that are the creation p.m. of the community itself." 30th ,, Downham Men's Co-op. Guild, Catholic Schools, The new edition of The Condition of Labour, published Moorside Road, Downham : Fredk. Verinder, by the Henry George Foundation, will be ready toward the " Land, Taxation and Co-operation." 8 p.m. end of November. The price, bound in red cloth, will be Is. The Sunday meetings at 8 p.m. in the Lecture Room at New features in this edition are the explanatory introduc- 7 St. Martin's Place are being very well attended. Future tion (the text of which we hope to print in these columns next month) ; the statement of Dr Edward McGlynn meetings are :— declared by Mgr Satolli " to contain nothing contrary to 5th Nov. Col. J. V. Delahaye: " The British Revolution." Catholic teaching " ; a large part of " Back to the Land," 12th „ Mr Van Gyseghen (of the Embassy Theatre) : being the Essay on the Land Question by Dr Thomas " The Russian Theatre." Nulty, Bishop of Meath ; and a comprehensive index. 19th „ Mr F. Rowe, B.A. : " The Need for Land We invite advance orders for this book and specially Reform." recommend it as an acceptable Christmas gift. 26th „ Mr Bonar Thompson : " Shakespeare and the The next Social Gathering will be held at the Com- People." mittee's rooms on 21st November. Mr Harry Clements, 3rd Dec. Mr John Stuart Barr : " The Place of Marx in well known in Nature Cure and Osteopathic Circles, will Modern Politics." be the guest of the evening, and will speak on " Nature Cure as a Social Philosophy." A letter on the Municipal Elections signed by the Readers of Land & Liberty are asked to accept this President was sent to 272 provincial newspapers, and has invitation and to bring interested friends. Light refresh- brought many inquiries to the League Office. ments and collection towards expenses. The Economic Class, under the direction of Andrew MacLaren, opened a New Session on 24th October. It ENGLISH LEAGUE : Frederick Verinder, General Secre- meets on Tuesdays in the Lecture Room at the League tary, 7 St. Martin's Place, Trafalgar Square, London, Office at 8 p.m. New members will be welcomed. W.C.2. ('Phone : Temple Bar 7830.) SCOTTISH LEAGUE : Secretary, William Reid, 150 North The Henry George Commemoration Dinner (which, this Street, Glasgow, C.3. (Telephone : Central 4136.) year, is also the " Jubilee " Dinner of the League—founded The Annual Henry George Commemoration meeting in 1883) will be held on Friday, 10th November, at Gatti's Restaurant, Strand, London, W.C.2. Mr Andrew MacLaren, under the auspices of the League will be held on Friday late M.P. for Burslem, will be the Guest of the evening. evening the 3rd November in the Liberal Club, 97 Buchanan It is hoped that Mrs Anna George de Mille, daughter of Street, Glasgow. Henry George, and her daughter, Miss Agnes de Mille, Several members of the League, including Mr John will be able to be present. Application for tickets (6s. per Gordon, Capt A. R. McDougal, Mr Charles J. E. Morgan head) should be made at once to the General Secretary. and the Secretary, were present at the Annual Meeting of In addition to the meetings announced last month, weekly the Scottish Liberal Federation at Ayr on 20th and 21st open-air meetings have been held during October at October, and took part in the discussions. Resolutions Wimbledon, and indoor meetings at West Fulham (Liberal were adopted urging the Rating and Taxation of Land Association and Labour Party). Mr D. H. Thomas Values. addressed a " New Britain " Group at Finsbury Park on Capt. McDougal has done much good work for the pro- " The Land Question." Future meetings (so far as at paganda both by voice and pen in the past month, including present arranged) are :— two illuminating letters in the Glasgow Herald. Other newspaper correspondents include Mr A. J. Mace, Mr Alex. 2nd Nov. Acton Vale W.C.G., Co-operative Hall, Western Campbell, Mr John Cameron and the Secretary. Their Avenue : Fredk. Verinder, " Land, Labour letters appeared in the Glasgow evening papers and one in and Capital." 2.30 p.m. Edinburgh. Mr Mace had letters also in the Clydebank NOVEMBER, 1933 LAND & LIBERTY 313

Press and the Stirling Journal, and Mr J. Caldwell in the Other meetings addressed have been : 1st October, Scots Observer and the Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald. Wm. Thomson, at the Congregational Church, Colne ; In the Clydebank Press and the Renfrew Press, Mr Lester's 3rd, A. W. Dakers at the Boldon Colliery W.C.G. ; 6th, pamphlet, Unemployment and the Land, is being published the Secretary at the Horsforth Men's Co-op Guild ; 10th, by instalments. P. V. Olver at the Rothwell Men's Co-op. Guild ; 16th, The Secretary addressed the Scots Independent Party, W. G. Taylor at the Masboro' W.C.G. ; 19th, Wm. Thomson Glasgow Central Branch, on 10th October. at the Wesley Guild, Batley ; 23rd, Wm. Thomson at the Bailie Burt and the Secretary have prepared a pamphlet W.C.G., Beeston Hill, Leeds. which will be submitted at the Henry George Commemo- Newspaper correspondence has been well maintained, ration meeting on 3rd November. especially in the Keighley News, which week by week has devoted much space to letters from the Secretary, " Impot MANCHESTER LEAGUE : Secretary, Arthur H. Weller, Unique," " The Man in the Street," F. R. Jones and J. T. J.P., 4 Piccadilly, Manchester. ('Phone : City 5527.). Hastings. W. G. Taylor has had letters in the Sheffield Meetings have been addressed by the League's speakers Telegraph and A. W. Dakers in the Yorkshire Observer. as follows : Alexandra Park Gate (two meetings), E. M. All readers in the vicinity are invited to attend the Ginders, D. J. J. Owen and A. H. Weller ; Chester W.C.G., Monday evening class at the rooms at Bow Street, Keighley, Mrs Catterall ; Audenshaw Labour Party, A. H. Weller ; which has for its text-book Henry George's Science of Orrell M.C.G., D. J. J. Owen ; Great Harwood Labour Political Economy. Party, A. H. Weller ; Radcliffe W.C.G., Mrs Catterall ; Meetings addressed in Leeds by Mr P. V. Olver : On Padiham W.C.G., A. H. Weller ; Droylsden Co-operative October 9th, the Regnal League. Burnley ; 12th, Thorner Party, A. H. Weller ; Ashton-under-Lyne Labour Party, W.C.G.; 17th, Blenheim W.C.G.; 30th, Toe H„ Headingly; A. H. Weller ; Clitheroe W.C.G., Mrs Catterall; Oldham also a number of Municipal election meetings. Mr E. W.C.G., E. M. Ginders ; Nelson W.C.G., A. H. Weller ; Renton has also been actively engaged in Leeds, having Standish Labour Party, A. H. Weller ; Macclesfield W.C.G., distributed in co-operation with Mr Olver and some of the E. Boyle ; Macclesfield Scientific Association, A. H. Weller ; candidates 2,000 copies of the " Tax Land Values " leaflet Chorley W.C.G., A. H. Weller ; Sale M.C.G., A. H. Weller ; issued by the United Committee. Broughton P.S.A. Brotherhood, A. H. Weller ; Heanor M.C.G., Geo. P. Musson. MIDLAND LEAGUE : Chapman Wright, Hon. Secretary, In the October issue of Peace a letter from the Secretary 20 Cannon Street, Birmingham, 2. was printed. In many cases meetings addressed by the Mr George F. Sawyer's term of office expiring, once more League's speakers have been reported in local papers. he is a candidate for the Duddeston Ward. In his election A questionnaire entitled " Local Authorities and the address he says : "I will again appeal to the Council to Slums " has been sent to all the candidates in the forth- apply to Parliament for power to Rate Land Values and coming municipal elections in Manchester and Salford. to De-rate Houses and Shops; this would force all idle Candidates are asked whether, if elected, they will use their and under-used land into better use, thereby providing votes and influence to induce the Government to proceed more work. The Tax (called Rates) taken off the at once with the provisions in the Finance Act of 1931 for houses will make house rent cheaper and house building land valuation and a tax on land values. would again be a paying proposition without subsidy." Arrangements are being made to hold fortnightly meet- Mr Sawyer has represented Duddeston on the Birmingham ings in the League's Office for the study of Progress and City Council for the past twelve years, and was (Labour) Poverty. Local readers of Land & Liberty are invited to Member of Parliament for the Duddeston Division from apply to the Secretary for particulars. There will be no 1923 to 1931. charge. On 18th September the Hon. Secretary gave an address at the Carr's Lane Guild on " Land Reform," and on 24th MANCHESTER HENRY GEORGE CLUB : Hon. Secretary, October he spoke to the members of the Small Heath Miss Peggy Noble, 13 Orthes Grove, Heaton Chapel. Branch of the Co-operative Party on the subject " How In spite of a heavy downpour of rain, there was a good to Stop Unjust Taxation." attendance at the Henry George Commemoration Service In view of the municipal elections, appropriate literature in the Chorlton Unitarian Church on Sunday, 15th October. is being distributed by members of the League. Mr D. J. Owen conducted the service and passages from the Bible and Progress and Poverty were read by Mr E. M. LIVERPOOL LEAGUE: F. R. Jones, Hon. Secretary, Ginders and Mr A. H. Weller. 21 Highfield Crescent, Rock Ferry, Cheshire. An address on " The Religious Demand for the Taxation The following meetings have been addressed by our of Land Values " was given by Mr Owen. Good reports speakers : 21st Sept., West Derby Co-op. Divisional were printed in the Manchester Guardian, Manchester City Council, E. J. McManus ; 10th Oct., Oakfield Co-op. News, and the Chorlton News. Women's Guild, the Secretary ; 11th Oct., Aigburth Vale Co-op. Women's Guild, E. J. McManus; 12th Oct., New CLITHEROE HENRY GEORGE GROUP : Hon. Secretary, Ferry Liberal Club, O. B. Sweeney; 17th Oct., Everton John L. Hamilton, " Waverley," Brangerley Avenue, Co-op. Women's Guild, O. B. Sweeney, Dingle Co-op. Joint Clitheroe, Lanes. Guild, the Secretary ; 20th Oct., Walton Co-op. Men's The Winter Session of the local Group is now in full Guild, J. Field; 23rd Oct., Heswall Co-op. Women's swing. We are continuing with the study of The Science Guild, O. B. Sweeney ; 25th Oct., Old Swan Co-op. of Political Economy, which was left uncompleted last Women's Guild, E. J. McManus; 31st Oct., West Derby Session. Co-op. Women's Guild, E. J. McManus, Kensington Co-op. On 1st October the Secretary addressed the U.M.C. Women's Guild, O. B. Sweeney. Young Men's Class. Mrs Catterall, of Manchester, addressed At our meeting-room, 21 Harrington Street, the following the Co-op. Guild on 10th October, and had a very successful addresses have been given : 4th Oct., " Land Reformers meeting. Mr A. Hallows, a Labour candidate for the throughout History," O. B. Sweeney; 11th Oct., November Elections, includes our rating reform in his " Positivism and the State," Otto Baier (Church of election address, and we propose to distribute the new Humanity) ; 18th Oct., " The Economic Doctrines of leaflet (published by the United Committee), "Tax Land Karl Marx," the Secretary ; 25th Oct., " The Justice of Values," to every house in Clitheroe. the Remedy," J. Field. The Economic Forum of " Social and Economic Questions YORKSHIRE AND NORTHERN LEAGUE : F. Skirrow, and Answers," conducted by Mr O. B. Sweeney, is being Secretary, Compton Buildings, Bow Street, Keighley. well maintained in the Birkenhead News. We take as The Secretary visited the Northumberland area and examples some of the questions discussed which occupy addressed a series of meetings, organised with the assistance two or three whole columns week by week : " You con- of Mr A. W. Dakers: On the 17th October at Seaton Sluice; tinually stress the land monopoly and your remedy for it, on the 18th at the Toynbee Settlement ; on the 19th at the Taxation of Land Values. Why do you ignore the Bowden Colliery ; and on the 22nd at the Adult Class, money and credit reform of Major Douglas ?-—What is Gosforth. meant by wages, is money wages ?—What is a capitalist ? 314 LAND & LIBERTY SEPTEMBER, 1933

—We are told, that Protection raises wages, what of the join the Class. The Syllabus to Christmas is as follows, falling unemployment figures; can we accept these as an the Class being resumed in the New Year and continued indication of better times ahead ?—Will a reduction of till May :— working hours improve the condition of the workers ? " 8th Nov. " Definition of Wages and Capital" : Lecturer, and so on. The " Forum " is a prominent feature in the Mr A. W. Madsen. News, and in his able treatment of the subjects put before 22nd ,, " Wages not Drawn from Capital" : Lecturer, him by so many correspondents Mr Sweeney is un- Mr J. H. McGuigan doubtedly influencing much thought to an appreciation of 6th Dec. " Population and Subsistence " : Lecturer, the radical remedy for hard times and low wages. Mr A. H. Stoakes. Readers in our district are again urged to come them- 20th „ " The Law of Rent " : Lecturer, Mr A. W. selves and bring friends to our weekly gatherings—each Madsen. Wednesday, 7.45 p.m.—at 21 Harrington Street. Speakers The League met in the Wesley Hall on the 27th September from every kind of organization will present their own Mr S. Osgood (who has given much effective help in beliefs, and in the subsequent questions and discussions organizing the Economic Class) gave an address on " Over- these beliefs will be, examined and related to our own reform. production," of which the Evening News gave a good report. The meetings present a complete economic education, and HIGHLAND LEAGUE : Hon. Secretary, I. Mackenzie, anyone by joining in the discussion can acquire practice and confidence in public speaking. The Arcade, Inverness. Mr Geo. Mackenzie, President of the League, is standing During the municipal elections several of our members for the Park Ward and intends to put the rating of land helped to distribute the latest United Committee leaflet. values as his principal plank. The annual municipal In this fine educational work Mr Austin Ward was again elections in the burgh of Inverness are likely to be more to the fore, inducing the Liverpool Co-operative Head- interesting this year on account of the number of candidates quarters and several Trade Unions and Labour Branches coming forward and the retiring members who are again to take a number for circulation. standing. The Ross-shire County Council, at a meeting in Dingwall WELSH LEAGUE: Eustace A. Davies, Hon. Secretary, on 17th October, approved of a scheme, costing £51,000, 27 Park Place, Cardiff. to build a new Academy. Mr Joseph Budge Easter The Committee sent a questionnaire to each of the Rarickie moved a counter motion, and in course of his candidates at the Cardiff municipal elections. Twenty speech said that "he valued the site at £6 an acre (feu duty), candidates replied favourably, and six did not reply. but the Tulloch Estate were asking £15 per acre.". Twenty- The circular to the candidates enclosed a copy of the new three acres of land were asked for. At the landlords' figure leaflet Tax Land Values issued by the United Com- this would mean a burden on the ratepayers for ever and mittee, with offer of a quantity for distribution, also the ever of £345 a year. pamphlet Sheffield City Council and the Rating of Land Values. Attention was called to the fact that the Finance CARLISLE Committee of the Cardiff City Council had adopted the Mr J. T. Hastings writes : " More than ordinary interest is " Sheffield Resolution," and that they were making prevailing in the Municipal Elections here. With the help of investigation on the same lines—to get for Cardiff the a keen co-worker several thousands of the leaflet, Tax Land prices paid for land during the past 25 years and the Values, provided by the United Committee, have been effec- previous rateable value ; also to report "as to how far tively distributed, and to 100 prominent people in civic and a rate on the selling value of land would assist in taking off business circles (addresses sent from here) copies have been the burdens from tenants and industrialists." The interest posted from the Committee's offices of Mr Verinder's of the candidate was requested in urging that the relevant pamphlet, The Crying Injustice of our Rating System. By information be obtained and published. the same arrangement, and earlier in the month, a special One of our members who has been attending some of postage was sent to more than 100 local people interested the municipal meetings states that the following facts in Church work, who each received the two pamphlets, have been made public : Councillor Capt. James Griffiths, Thou Shalt Not Steal, by Henry George, and Unemployment speaking at Grangetown on the 24th instant, said that a and the Land, by W. R. Lester. piece of land comprising about 10 acres at Sloper Road, Grangetown—which is to be called " Sevenoaks Park "— WILLIAM MOFFAT CLOW was in the rate book at an assessment of £13, and on that I record with deep regret the death of Mr W. M. Clow, assessment the rates were £2. When the Cardiff Corpora- J.P., one of the few members of the English League in tion wished to purchase the plot, the price asked was Northern Ireland, in his 82nd year. Born in Glasgow, he £5,500. At the same meeting, Mr George Williams stated came of a Scottish family of farmers and millers, and was that the land now known as Cathays Park and upon part the head of a milling firm at Portadown and Belfast. He of which the Cardiff Civic Buildings now stand was sold rendered long and faithful service to the former town, of to the City for something in the region of £150,000. This which he was a leading citizen ; not only as a Magistrate, land, he said, was originally rated as agricultural land, and but as a member of the Urban District Council and of the in respect of it the owner was, at one time, relieved of Chamber of Commerce, and in many other capacities ; half of his rates as a depressed agriculturalist. and had served as High Sheriff of Co. Armagh and on the Meetings addressed : 16th October, New Tredegar and County Committees for Education and Agriculture. He District Labour Party, by Mr C. A. Gardner ; 23rd October, was rightly and highly esteemed by the local Presbyterian Bethlehem Welsh Congregational Church Young People's Church, of which he was a devoted member and helper, Guild, Cardiff, by the Hon. Secretary. and was noted for a wide-minded generosity, which was We have recently circularized about 800 organizations, extended to the English League (of which he had been a including Miners' Lodges, Labour organizations, and Liberal member for many years) and to the United Committee. and National League of Young Liberal organizations. On behalf of both these organizations, I offer to Mrs Clow Offers of speakers' services, the Essay Competition an- and the surviving son and daughters an assurance of sincere nouncement, and other literature were enclosed. sympathy with them in their bereavement. ^ ^ PORTSMOUTH LEAGUE : Hon. Secretary : S. R. Cole, 165 Francis Avenue, Southsea. MAJOR C. J. VASEY The Economic Class which is being held every alternate As we go to press we regret to leam of the death of Wednesday evening in the Wesley Hall, Fratton Road, Major C. J. Vasey, O.B.E., which took place at his home at began on the 25th October with Mr W. R. Lester as the Goodfellows, Frensham, Surrey, on 29th October. lecturer for the evening. As already announced, the text- Major Vasey was a sincere supporter of the Movement book for the class this year is Progress and Poverty. Under for the taxation of land values, and lost no opportunity of the title " The Economic Problem," Mr Lester dealt with advocating it. He was exceedingly well-informed and the introductory chapter. There was a good attendance open-minded, a charming conversationalist and an and an excellent discussion. All readers of the Journal attractive writer. in Portsmouth, and their friends, are earnestly invited to We offer our sincere sympathy to his wife and family. 315 NOVEMBER, 1933 LAND & LIBERTY

INTERNATIONAL NEWS ROUMANIA a suggestive proposal for modification of methods of valuing sites partly in view of swift and wide fluctuations From numerous letters sent us by Mr C. Barsony we in the value of currency, which deserves consideration at summarize the following particulars of the progress of the the next International Conference. Germany has lost no Henry George movement in Roumania. such son since Carl Marfels and Dr Schrameier. Argentina There are numerous political parties. The Hungarian can but resolve that his work shall be continued with his Little Farmers' Party is led by Dr Imre Rety, by whose own zeal and faith. courtesy Mr Barsony has had the opportunity of speaking BRAZIL to the leading members of the party and also of publishing articles in its two newspapers, Hargita, published at M. J. S. writes :— Odorheiu, and A Nep, published at Bucharest. In the 0 Georgista (C.P. 514 Rio de Janeiro) for September, 1933, latter paper a column will be opened in each issue for with its usual features of special and translated matter dealing with the single tax. (including several pages of the new local version of Progress There are a number of peasants' parties, and negotiations and Poverty) gives due praise to A Gazetinha, a Labour are being carried on for the amalgamation of these into a organ in the Federal Capital. After a series of Georgeist single party. The largest, called Frontul Plugarilor (the articles and correspondence, a vote of its readers was taken Ploughmen's Front) is led by the ex-Minister Dr Peter on the desirability of a single tax on land value in the Federal Groza, who has given Mr Barsony facilities for putting the District, which was affirmed by 420 votes to 296. A. V. Georgeist point of view before his members. Another large De Mello and Dr Saboya Lima have incorporated in the peasant party is known as Regat and is led by Mr Constantin manifesto of the " Society of Friends of Alberto Torres " Argetoianu, ex-Minister of Finance. Mr Barsony presented a Georgeist plank denouncing landlordism in a land of 8-J to him his pamphlet, How to Raise the Revenue, noticed in million square kilometres in which more than 10 million March-April Land & Liberty, and received the following Brazilians are absolutely landless. letter in reply :— MALTA "You are right that the direct taxes mentioned are unjust. A tax on the value of land, a single tax in The history of the Single Tax movement in Malta began replacement of all other taxes, would be more logical on 19th April, 1899, when Sir Gerald (now Lord) Strickland, and just. But only in normal times. The fixed values speaking in the Council of Government as Chief Secretary to of the land cannot be altered each year, because that Government, advocated the substitution of a direct tax would disturb too much the work of assessment and on ground rent for our Customs taxes, adding that all collection. Further, in this time of crisis, the value of members, official and elected, lacked the moral courage to the produce and the value of the land are out of propor- vote for what they knew was the real remedy. tion, and it would thus not be possible to establish an On 12th April, 1901, speaking again on that subject, he equitable proportionable tax. Agriculture is too much said if any one attempted to introduce the reform, even impoverished and depressed. A new tax on the land gradually, landowners " with the Ecclesiastical interest would be ill received, in spite of the explanation to the (which derives so large a revenue from Maltese land) would taxpayer that other taxes would be discontinued. have agitated." Theoretically the system which you explained is infallible, In 1929 the Labour Party drafted a Bill which was but it is necessary to wait for normal times in order to based on " A Scheme for the Taxation of Land Values," apply it." and Mr Joseph Orlando, M.L.A. (Labour), laid the Bill on the table of the Legislative Assembly. This comment is in many ways acute and sympathetic. The prophecy of 12th April, 1901, is now history. The Mr Argetoianu stresses too much the difficulty of making Nominated Council enacted a law which makes it criminal the valuation and of revising it frequently. The initial to refrain from clipping out of the books published by valuation will naturally be the most difficult, depending Tolstoi, Lord Passfield, Bernard Shaw, etc., etc., any upon what amount of information is already available to paragraphs which the Imperial authorities may choose to the valuers in the shape of cadastral surveys, etc. Once a say is seditious. His Excellency signed warrants for the valuation has been made, the revision is comparatively arrest of Mr Orlando and five others. Of course, books easy, especially where the revision is necessitated by general were found in their libraries such as are known to exist in causes (such as the alteration of the value of agricultural the libraries of others—books of a class which every products which Mr Argetoianu mentions). Such alterations journalist should study. It took them two and a half can in many cases be taken into account quite simply by months to ascertain that there is no sedition in Land & calculating uniform percentages of depreciation or appre- Liberty, Land and Freedom, Lessons in Economics, The ciation for the various classes of land, because the relative Land Song, Government Derating Act, Idle Lands and Idle values of the various holdings of land will already have Men, How to Raise Wages, Housing and Land Monopoly been ascertained and will in many cases remain the same. in Our Villages, Six Reasons for Taxing Land, Values, and It is also to be remembered that in times of depression Peace and Freedom. Working at that rate an expert indirect taxes, such as tariffs, continue to afflict the agricul- would have required thirty-five years and five months to tural producer. An efficient, rapidly-working system of examine the 1,700 volumes in Mr Orlando's library. land value taxation would give him more relief than any The Court commended the counsel for the prosecution other. on the great industry with which he had sought for evidence ARGENTINA other than " book-keeping " against the accused, and M. J. S. writes :— acknowledged that nothing could be thus found against Orlando in prose, but held that when he dropped into All Georgeists will extend lively sympathy to South poetry he became guilty. As Editor of II Cotra, Mr Orlando America and Germany in the passing away in Buenos Aires, wrote prose every week ; yet though a number of his on 8th August, 1933, of Waldemar PK'mmel. Tribuna articles on the Land Tax had been lodged in Court, counsel Oeorgista (Privadavia 1974 Buenos Aires) for 8th September, considered discretion the better part of valour, so did not 1933,recalls his fine services. BorninHamburgin 1872,most refer to any of his prose. And no reference was made to of his life was spent at Bahia Blanca, a great sovithern his prose in the judgment. seaport of Argentina. He founded there an important One-third of Malta is Church lands. Had His Grace " section " of the Argentine Single Tax League, which has been of great value to the public. He was President of the led the movement in favour of the taxation of land values Single Tax League in 1926, and as author and councillor the smaller landowners would not be able to oppose the worked untiringly. For years he conducted a very useful reform I therefore sent him a copy of his Church's teach- page in English in Tribuna Oeorgista, adding to its value ing as embodied in Papal Ablegate Mgr Satolli's Decision as an exchange overseas. Even last May he was elected of 23rd December, 1892. He replied that he did not First Vice-President of the Argentine Georgeist 5th National approve of that opinion. ERNEST G. GEOGHEGAN. Conference. He sent recently to the International Union 316 LAND & LIBERTY SEPTEMBER, 1933

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Published by THE UNITED COMMITTEE FOR THE TAXATION OF LAND VALUES, LTD., York Mansion, 94 Petty France London, S.W.I. Printed by VACHEB & SONS, LTD., Parliamentary and General Printers, Westminster House, B.W. 1.— 10439.