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Private Ownership of Land.

F you will allow me I should like to reply to some points in the paper of C. H. in the last issue of the Magazine on the above subject. He there states that "all exchangeable value in land is produced by labour," but I think it would be better described as being produced by the requirements of labour. To my mind, the value of labour applied to the land is all the exchangeable value individuals should have in it, and it is to give this only which has occasioned the necessity for the nationalisation of land.

Land contains the natural opportunities of all labour; that is, labour cannot operate without land; and this monopoly of opportunities is an important factor in the value of land, is distinct from the value of labour applied to it, and should go to the State for the general benefit of all, who, by the very fact of their existence, help of necessity to produce, and increase it.

Monopoly in land contains a value in being able to prevent labour from operating unless it agrees to pay a tax for the privilege, which is called rent, and in this way there is an "exchangeable value" in land before labour can even make a start. This value cannot be said to be the result of labour, which arises simply from the power to prevent the operation of labour; and this value gradually increases in proportion to the increase of the population, as the necessity for land becomes greater. In other words we increase the demand, but not the supply of land.

To illustrate further, suppose the present supply of house accommodation could not be increased, the demand caused by increased population would soon raise the price of houses, although each house would only represent the same fixed amount of labour value (the labour of erecting it); and the increased value would be the value of the privilege to live in it, and not the value of additional labour expended on it. In this case there is a first labour value in building, but in the case of land there is no original labour value to be exchanged by individuals, but the value is entirely one of monopoly.

The demand for houses could be met by additional labour in building more houses, and increased value from this cause would thus be prevented.

The value of land in towns is entirely on account of the monopoly, and not the value of labour invested in it; the ground rent is a tax for the right to occupy, and the rent of a house is interest for the labour expended in the building of the house.

I make a distinction between the actual value of labour done, and the value of privilege to labour; the former belongs to the individual, and the latter to the community.

C. H. mentions the "unearned increment" in the increased value of a picture, but this certainly is not a "parallel case" to the "unearned increment" in land; the former is simply buying and selling at a profit, and the profit is payment to the merchant for his labour as distributor. The original picture value is the painter's labour, genius, skill (call it by whatever name you will) expended in producing it. Besides, more pictures can be painted if there is a demand, or we can live without them; but we cannot live without the land, nor can we produce more if required.

În conclusion, I think compensation should be made to the amounts actually paid for the land by the present owners, because in many cases it is the value of labour paid to secure a share of the monopoly. It is the robbery which takes place under the name of "compensation" that makes the word odious to those who are anxious for real and honest reform. But although it is clearly to my mind an unjust and unrighteous thing that a small and privileged class should monopolise, and burden with taxation, that which ought to be the birthright of all, yet I for one should be sorry to see even this unfair monopoly set on one side too suddenly, because the persons who now enjoy it are not responsible for the injustice, and are, by reason of the very circumstances of their easy condition, rendered too weak and feeble to face the battle of life on equal terms with those who are already made strong and vigorous by being inured to labour and hardship. My contention and desire is that a start should be made on lines which, if followed, would gradually and peacefully work out a cure for the difficulty.

P.S.

Work of the Session.

HE ANNUAL CONVERSAZIONE took place in the Town Hall, on Tuesday, December 18, 1883; 326 members and friends present. 340 tickets were sold. Dancing commenced at 8; Supper was served at 10-45; Dancing recommenced at 11-30, and closed at 2-10 a.m. A balance of £37 Is. 3d. was handed over to the Treasurer.

The Fifth Meeting of the Session was held on Friday, December 21st, 1883. Present: 33 members.

DEBATE: "That the Liturgy of the Church of England does meet the needs of modern worshippers." Speakers: Affirmative, Messrs. R. L. Crosbie, Claddo, and Greening. Negative, Messrs. R. Pardoe, A. B. Biggs, and C. B. Caswell.

Voting.—Affirmative, 9. Negative, 7.

Sixth Meeting-January 18th, 1884. Semi-public. Present: 123 members and friends.

DEBATE: "That the higher education of both sexes is being pushed to a greater length than is good for their future happiness and usefulness." Affirmative, Messrs. A. Liddell, J. W. Bond, J. W. Tonks, and W. Summerton. Negative, Messrs. G. Zair, H. S. Pearson, Claddo, and Sedgwick.

Voting.Members only, Affirmative, 27. Negative, 16.

Members and friends, Affirmative, 41. Negative, 27. Seventh Meeting-February 1st, 1884. Present: 36 members.

DEBATE: "That the poems of Sir W. Scott are a more valuable contribution to literature than those of Robert Burns." Speakers: Affirmative, Messrs. Summerton, J. Mason, and J. Suffield. Negative, Messrs. C. F. Gray, B.A., A. Liddell, and Buckley. Voting. Affirmative, 12. Negative, 13. Eighth Meeting—February 15th, 1884. friends.

Present: 142 members and

DEBATE: "That the happiness of mankind is not increased by civilisation." Speakers: Affirmative, Messrs. C. Lean, T. Cond H. S. Pearson, Henry Clarke, and A. J. Claddo. Negative, Messrs. Paxton Porter, G. Titterton, F. Taylor, J. Mason, and J. W. Tonks.

Voting. Members only, Affirmative, 33. Negative, 22.

Members and friends, Affirmative, 62. Negative, 32.

Ninth Meeting-February 29th, 1884. Present: 47 members.

DEBATE: "That the foreign policy of the present Government has been conducted upon wise and just principles." Speakers: Affirmative, Messrs. W. H. Silk, R. Parkes, H. Clarke, and A. B. Biggs. Negative, Messrs. F. Taylor, J. Mason, and J McClelland. Neutral, Mr. J. Weakley.

Voting.--Affirmative, 20. Negative, 14.

Tenth Meeting-March 14th, 1884. A joint debate took place between the Birmingham and Edgbaston Debating Society, and the C.L.A. Present: 288 members and friends from both societies.

SUBJECT: "That notwithstanding pledges to the contrary given to European nations, the time has arrived for the British Government to establish a permanent protectorate over Egypt." Speakers Affirmative, Messrs. S. A. Howell (B. & E. D. S.), A. H. Gibson (B. & E. D. S.), and E. M. Coleman (C. L. A.). Negative, Messrs. G. Titterton (C. L. A.), A. C. Osler (B. & E. D. S.), and Councillor W. H. Hart (C. L. A.).

Voting ---Members only, Affirmative, 37. Negative, 55.

Members and friends, Affirmative, 69. Negative, 99.

CONTRIBUTIONS for the July number should reach the Editor not later than June 4th.

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