102 A NEW AGRICULTURAL POLICY 



Nevertheless, there are good farmers and 

 public-spirited farmers, and it is essential that 

 these should take part in the control of this 

 industry in shaping any national agricultural 

 policy. But they should only form a section. 

 From the national standpoint, the most im- 

 portant class to hold the reins to speed the 

 plough are the farm workers. These, and 

 the farmers, should sit in equal numbers both 

 on County Agricultural Committees and on 

 the National Council of Agriculture, whilst the 

 remaining third should consist of agricultural 

 economists, agricultural chemists, accountants, 

 engineers, and transport officers. 



The most important class to hold the reins 

 are the farm workers, for there are three farm 

 workers to one farmer. I have roughly 

 sketched the emergence of Hodge from the 

 humble position of a private soldier in the 

 army of agriculturists, often enlisted by the 

 recruiting sergeant Hunger, living merely to 

 obey orders and to have no voice in the con- 

 duct of his industry. War, the debating 

 societies of the trenches, the appraisement of 

 his value at tribunals, education in trade union- 

 ism, have entirely altered the mentality of the 

 submissive labourer. He demands a higher 

 standard of life ; he asks that the treasure 

 houses of the earth shall be thrown open to 

 him and to his children. He is, in fact, be- 

 ginning to demand the land which he has 



