280 OUR ENGLISH LAND MUDDLE. 



and, by occasioning a general calling in of 

 mortgages, would result in widespread dis- 

 location and financial chaos. They would 

 effectively dry up the flow of capital to 

 the land, and have exactly the contrary 

 effect to that promised by those who 

 favour this method of taxation." 

 But, with all deference to these high au- 

 thorities, I think that they confuse the issue of 

 the method of taxation with that of the rate, 

 and condemn a good method because it is 

 popularly confounded with an exorbitant rate. 

 Certainly the " Single Taxers' " proposals for the 

 taxation of site values are wild and mischievous : 

 but because of the rate of the tax proposed, 

 not the method of its levying. I fail to see 

 any fairer method of levying of land taxation 

 than on site values ; and if the amount collected 

 is not excessive, as it would fall chiefly on urban 

 lands, there would be a very large relief to 

 agricultural land. 



But the most important thing is to get rid of 

 the present confusing tangle of imposts ; to put 

 all national burdens on the national exchequer ; 

 to make the local governing bodies responsible 



