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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 71

Added a Part and taken all

Added a Part and taken all.

It was true that the land-owning class had done their share, for every member of the community helped to add to the ground value. No one could doubt that; but whilst they had only added a part to the land value they had taken the whole. Now, supposing he, Mr. Withy, had invited by advertisement all those in the body of the hall to bring the proceeds of their day's work for the few on the platform to share with them, what would they have said? If those on the platform also contributed there might be some fairness in a general divide. Yet this was practically what the people had been doing daily under the sanction of the law. All had contributed to the increased value of the land, whilst one small section took the lot. (Applause.) He had said that the original error in the mode of settling land was in selling it. They ought not to have sold it. How could they fairly sell in perpetuity something the future value of which they could never know? Could anyone tell the future value of the vacant site alongside the hall in which he was speaking 20 or 50 years hence?