XVII LAND NATIONALIZATION— WHY ? AND HOW ? 329 



should have the first offer of it under the new conditions ; 

 these being that he should become the owner of the 

 improvements and agree to pay the State ground-rent. If 

 he has capital he can purchase the improvements by a 

 cash payment, but if not he should be entitled to 

 purchase them by means of a terminable rental, as in the 

 case of purchases under the Irish Church Act. This 

 would be done through the Land Courts, which would 

 decide on the annual payments to be made and the period 

 for which they are to run, so as to meet the views of both 

 parties. It is the opinion of good authorities that most 

 farmers now hold too much land in proportion to their 

 capital, and that with perfect security of tenure and 

 absolute freedom of action they would reduce their 

 holdings in order to farm more highly and to be able to 

 effect permanent improvements. Some farms would 

 therefore be divided, and remote fields be detached from 

 others, and these would afford land for small holdings or 

 for gardens and fields for labourers. 



But much more than this is needed. The crofters and 

 cottiers who have been ejected from their homes, the 

 labourers who have been driven into towns, and all who 

 have been robbed of their ancient rights by the inclosure 

 of commons, require immediate redress. We have seen 

 what beneficial results invariably follow the grant of 

 small plots of land at fair rents and on a secure tenure, 

 and Nationalization would not deserve the name did it 

 not place this boon within the reach of all who desire it. 

 There is no privilege so beneficial to all the members of a 

 community as to have ample space of land on which to 

 live. Surround the poorest cottage with a spacious 

 vegetable garden, with fruit and shade trees, with room 

 for keeping pigs and poultry, or cows, and the result 

 invariably is untiring industry and thrift, which soon raise 

 the occupiers above poverty, and diminish, if they do not 

 abolish, drunkenness and crime. Every mechanic and 

 tradesman should also be able to obtain this great benefit 

 whenever he desired it ; and this is far too important a 

 matter for the whole community to be left to the chance 

 of land being offered for sale when and where wanted. It 



