4 WHAT IS THE LAND QUESTION ? 



that they go with it, though nothing is more 

 obvious than that they often do not. But 

 even physical quahty is difficult to measure, 

 and we have as yet no standard. So the 

 question is left to inference, and it is urged 

 that the physical conditions of rural life, 

 which can be measured, must entail deterio- 

 ration or at least prevent improvement. 

 Thus there are two sets of facts to be ex- 

 amined in this connection:— (i) The move- 

 ment of the agricultural population ; (2) the 

 conditions under which they live. But it is 

 to be observed that the relation of these facts 

 to the fundamental problem is very different. 

 The first set directly proves something — 

 namely, the diminution of the agricultural 

 population ; the second set proves nothing 

 directly, but is connected by inference both 

 with diminution, which is proved, and with 

 deterioration, which is not. The conditions of 

 rural life are commonly assumed to be res- 

 ponsible for both, and proposed measures of 

 reform are based on that assumption ; they 

 are expected to increase the quantity and 

 improve the quality of life. From this point 

 of view the land question is narrowed down 

 to higher wages and better cottages. 



Production. 



Turning to the other half of the question — 

 the less prominent but not less important 



