My life : a record of events and opinions - Wallace-online.org

:242 MY LIFEme. It seems to me that before formulating the ideain a specific shape, it is needful to generate a bodyof public opinion on the general issue, and that itmust be some time before there can be producedsuch recognition of the general principle involved asis needful before definite plans can be set forth toany purpose." It seems to me that the thing to be done atpresent is to arouse public attention to (i) the abstractinequity of the present condition of things; (2) toshow that even now there is in our law a tacit denialof absolute private ownership, since the State reservesthe power of resuming possession of land on makingcompensation ; (3) that this tacitly admitted ownershipought to be overtly asserted ; (4) and that havingbeen overtly asserted, the landowner should be distinctlyplaced in the position of a tenant of the Stateon something like the terms proposed in your schemenamely, that while the land itself should be regardedas public property, such value as has been given toit should vest in the existing so-called owner." The question is surrounded with such difficultiesthat I fear anything like a specific scheme for resumptionby the State will tend, by the objections made,to prevent recognition of a general truth which mightotherwise be admitted. For example, in definitelymaking the proposed distinction between ' inherentvalue as dependent on natural conditions, etc.,' andthe 'increased value given by the owner,' there israised the questions—How are the two to be distinguished? How far back are we to go in takingaccount of the labour and money expended in givingfertility ? In respect of newly enclosed tracts, someestimation may be made ; but in respect of thegreater part, long reduced to cultivation, I do not