302 RURAL RECONSTRUCTION 



expense. The result is owned to have been nil. All the measures 

 taken in aid of the working and cultivating classes, which we hear 

 so freely praised, were marked with a pronounced paternalism, which 

 in truth deprived them of their main merit, which should be that of 

 making such industries support themselves and so create self- 

 reliance and an addition to national productive capacity and wealth, 

 instead of merely half parasitic ornaments. At a Congress held at 

 Vienna shortly before the War, the representative of the Hungarian 

 Government present plainly stated that all this teaching, with its 

 exhibitions attached and Government patronage, had, in the 

 absence of sufficient attention paid to the practical equipment of 

 sound organisation, proved of very feeble influence. It was a 

 practical spirit, so he laid it down, that was wanted. Dealers were 

 in truth much better teachers than schoolmasters and technical 

 instructors. Organisation was the key point. And the most 

 effective help to small industries in practice was co-operation. 

 Co-operation has accordingly become the dominating recommenda- 

 tion in the matter. The same discovery has been made elsewhere. 

 And it is upon co-operation that hopes are now based in a class of 

 undertakings which, it must be admitted, is beset with difficulties 

 such as it has thus far — ever since the push of factory competition 

 set in — been found a problem to overcome. 



Just one word, however, by way of caution, to be put in at this 

 point in favour of teaching. Teaching in itself is all to the good, 

 and an actual necessity. The questionable point about it is the 

 authorities to whom it is to be entrusted and the manner in which 

 it is to be administered. Russian small home industry stands in 

 some respects unequalled for quality — both quality itself, in the 

 ordinary sense, and typical raciness and originality, local impress 

 and taste. Now in Russia there is plenty of teaching, and also 

 very liberal help given. However, that help comes, not from the 

 Government, but from private individuals, who indulge a public- 

 spirited rich man's hobby, which benefits the nation. Under such 

 influence, where teaching is not a " career," and where interest and 

 capacity guide the movement, instruction is found to produce 

 excellent results. 



If, so I may be permitted to interpolate, our Indian home-workers 

 were to imitate their north-western neighbours and produce articles 

 turned out with the same care, not in a hurry, but with a view to 

 producing something of real utility, their products would not long 

 go a-begging. 



But to return to co-operation in this particular application. 



