252 



MY LIFE 



[Chap. 



comparatively, disadvantageous both to the labourers themselves and to 

 society ; and they are altogether condemned by John Stuart Mill as 

 being bad in principle. But in every case in which labourers have been 

 allowed a few acres of land at a fair rent, and attached to their cottages^ 

 the effects have been most beneficial. Not only have they obtained a 

 large increase to their means by utilizing labour before wasted, but they 

 and their families have acquired habits of temperance, industry, and 

 thrift, so that pauperism and drunkenness have been greatly diminished, 

 and the population has been elevated, both socially and morally. 



In order to extend these beneficial results to the whole community, 

 the labourer asks for neither charity nor loans, but fair opportunity and 

 equal justice. It was urged that the necessary capital will be saved by 

 the more industrious and thrifty labourers when they have before them 

 the certainty of procuring that dream of their lives, " a homestead of their 

 very own;" while nothing would so certainly lead to failure as any 

 extensive system of loans to enable those who have not these essential 

 virtues to obtain the needful land, stock, and houses without them. 



The scheme suggested as most beneficial to labourers and to the 

 community at large is as follows : — 



(1) In each rural parish four land-assessors to be chosen by the 

 ratepayers, two to be farmers and two labourers. 



(2) Any labourer or mechanic wanting a plot of land shall have it 

 allotted to him by two of the assessors, one named by himself and one by 

 the existing occupier of the land, after the parties have met together on 

 the ground and stated their wishes and objections. 



(3) The rent of the land thus allotted to be fairly valued by the 

 assessors, who will also determine the sum to be paid for improvements, 

 unexhausted manures, etc., on the land, which last sum must be paid 

 before obtaining possession. 



(4) The rents of the plots thus allotted to be collected by the local 

 rate-collector, and the amounts, less a percentage for collection, to be 

 paid to the landlord. 



(5) The tenure of the plots to be secure so long as they are personally 

 occupied, and to be saleable or transferable ; while the rents are to be 

 fixed for long periods, and only raised by a new general valuation in case 

 the value of the land itself has risen irrespective of all improvements, 

 which last remain the absolute property of the tenant. 



By the method thus sketched out no attack is made on private pro- 

 perty, and no new principle in dealing with land is introduced, since 

 many industrial enterprises calculated chiefly to benefit individuals often 

 obtain from Parliament the right to take land. It is now only asked that 

 the same power may be given to the people at large, under strict limita- 

 tions, and in order to benefit the whole community by bringing about a 

 more natural distribution of population, and a greater and more varied 

 production of food and other useful products. 



Various popular objections to labourers having land were then 

 answered, and it was shown that none of them has any force as applied 



