APPENDIX VII 



NATIONALIZATION OF LAND 



ONE of the chief arguments put forward by land 

 nationalizers is that the landowner asks exorbitant 

 prices for land and so checks development in many 

 directions. 



Here we have a clear and definite statement, and it is quite 

 as definitely an untruth. 



It is agricultural land — not urban building or factory 

 sites — which is here discussed ; and what are the facts .'* 



Firstly, that the agricultural land of Great Britain realizes 

 less than its economic value when it comes into the market. 

 It is the cheapest land in Europe, and it is cheaper than the 

 land in the more settled parts of our Dominions, 



Secondly, that although the value of land appreciated some- 

 what during the war, the increase was far less than that of 

 any other commodity that was bought or sold. Taking average 

 agricultural land that had a selling value of j^20 per acre in 

 1 9 14, that value rose to about ^25 in 1917 or 191 8, which 

 means — if the purchasing value of money be taken into 

 account — that during the war, and since the war, average 

 land was selling at less than its pre-war value. 



A few cases of rich fen land may be quoted where ^£140 per 

 acre was realized, but similar land in New Zealand, 12,000 

 miles from our great markets, is selling at ^^150 per acre and 

 more ! 



It is of fundamental importance to understand the truth in 

 this matter, because very many untruths are told about the 

 abnormal value of land by people who are either hopelessly 

 ignorant of the subject, or wilful perverters of the truth. 



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