6o HOUSING 



things has, perhaps, since grown worse ; but 

 it is clear that inadequate housing is by no 

 means universal. Its incidence is partial, and 

 nowhere is it put forward as the principal 

 reason for agricultural decline. Where it does 

 occur stress is laid on the quality. The com- 

 plaint is that " good," " suitable," or 

 " better " cottages are lacking, and attention 

 is drawn to the advanced standard which is 

 brought home to young villagers by the 

 contrast with the superior accommodation of 

 modern urban housing. But this is only one 

 of many attractions offered by the town and 

 much less in evidence than others. The con- 

 clusion is that, though inadequate housing is 

 a factor contributing to the decline of agricul- 

 tural life, it is only one, and not the most 

 important. This does not mean that nothing 

 should be done for it ; but it does mean that 

 housing alone will not do much to help 

 agriculture, and that if it is made an object 

 in itself to be pursued without regard to the 

 real object or to other more influential factors 

 it may do more harm than good. If, for 

 instance, the interests of the industry are lost 

 sight of and too great a burden is placed on it 

 the result may be to increase depopulation. 

 So, too, if the claims of public health are put 

 too high and injudiciously enforced, sanita- 

 tion may be established in rural districts on 

 the same principle as order in Warsaw. 



