The improvements might be the
improvements of his grandfather, or even those of a complete stranger,
from whom he had bought the tenancy. Anyhow they might be the better
portion of the value of the land, and would not be government
property. Or would the government insist on purchasing the
improvements, and look out for a new tenant paying a higher rent?
Lastly, would the government themselves make such improvements as many
an English landlord makes now, for love of the country about him and
love of his own people?
5. It would be most difficult to prevent private property arising in
land, even if it all did belong to the State to start with. "Suppose
L10 paid for a piece of land for a year, and suppose the occupier
said, Let me have it for ten years, and I will give you L20 a year,
ought not the State to accept the offer? Then suppose he said, Give it
me for ever and I will pay L30 a year? Again, ought not the State to
agree? He would then be that hateful creature a landowner, subject to
a rent-charge. Now suppose the State wanted to do work and had to
borrow money, and suppose he offered to give for the redemption of the
rent-charge a sum which could not be borrowed for less than L40 a
year.
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