Land Problems and National Welfare 



has expressed the strongest disapproval. I 

 am not referring so much to the specific instance 

 proved by the last Budget, but rather to the 

 general policy of ultimate land nationalisation 

 by means of taxing the rural landowner out of 

 existence. 



I am not here concerning myself with the 

 question of the nationalising of the land, but 

 with the financially unsound procedure of over- 

 taxing one class of persons connected with the 

 most important industry in the country. Land 

 reform cannot be achieved by taxing the land- 

 owner out of existence, and such a course would 

 very speedily ruin the industry. It rests with 

 moderate politicians to carry through a policy 

 of land reform which shall be thorough and 

 beneficial, not only to the nation, but from 

 the very outset to the agricultural industry 

 itself. 



The bringing of the words "Socialism" and 

 "Socialist " so much to the fore is doing untold 

 harm. Thousands of English voters oppose, 

 and I fear will more and more oppose scientific 

 and constructive reforms, because in their ignor- 

 ance of social economy they think that the pro- 

 posed reform smacks of Socialism. 



There is also a large class of persons who 

 improperly call themselves Socialist because, 

 being interested in social questions, they deem 

 it necessary to proclaim themselves Socialists. 



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