26 JUNE 1909, Page 18

The attempt to argue that Mr. Balfour's plea makes him

a Socialist, because what is due to the growth of the community ought to belong to the community, is absurd. The community, having the power, can take any property which it desires to take, but it is foolish for it to do so, because experience shows that the institution of private property is the greatest of stimulants to economic progress and individual liberty and happiness,—the objects for which communities are organised. Communities which destroy these things are like the pagan gods who devoured their own children. We must not forget to add that in the course of the week's debates Mr. Lloyd George made one concession,—namely, that one-half of the produce of the now Land-taxes should be allocated to local purposes.