16 GROWTH OF POPULATION 



body of cultivators with a low standard of living. 



It must not be thought that I would argue from this that 

 it is desirable to establish the landlord and tenant system 

 everywhere. As I shall point out shortly that system is 

 capable of being the most advantageous to the country, but 

 it may also be the worst system. We must always keep in 

 view therefore the " principle of variety," namely, that it 

 is good for every country to have differences in different 

 parts. Differences of tenure are quite possible even in the 

 same district ; and there is no reason whatever to aim at 

 creating uniformity, except of course as regards the par- 

 ticular priviliges and obligations which may be imposed upon 

 landlords and tenants. 



Having seen that the growth of a landlord class cannot 

 be altogether prevented in rich tracts, but only retarded, it 

 may be well to enquire whether a landlord class is a desira- 

 ble part of the commonwealth. If it is not, steps could be 

 taken to abolish it by forcing sales of proprietary rights to 

 tenants, or by state acquisition, by retarding the subsequent 

 re- aggregation of holdings, and again abolishing landlords' 

 estates every thirty years or so if necessary. 



I think we shall be agreed that tbe only justification for 

 the continued existence of any class of persons being favor- 

 ably regarded is that they contribute something definite to 

 the well-being of the whole community. An important aim 

 of economic policy always must be to rid the country of 

 the parasitic classes of persons who simply live upon the 

 hard work of others without contributing directly or indi- 

 rectly to increase the total production of the community or 

 to promote religion or learning or culture and social enjoy- 

 ment. The criterion as to whether it is good for a country 

 to have a landlord class or not depends, therefore, upon the 

 character of the men composing that class, and what view 

 they take of the responsibilities of their position. If the 



