APPENDIX 469 



to ask that it should be inquired into, and dealt with by the national 

 authorities. At least that is my view, after some study of the matter, 

 and I hope that it may prove to be the view of this Chamber. I know 

 that some landowners and farmers say : ' Oh ! leave it alone ' — they 

 wish, for reasons that seem to me absolutely futile, and in these days of 

 newspapers and universal publicity, unwise and even dangerous, to try 

 to keep the facts secret ; to adopt the policy of an ostrich, and hide 

 their heads in a ditch while the labourer and the more vigorous members 

 of his family tramp past them to the railway station, leaving the sick, 

 aged, and incompetent to swell the rates. But I do not believe in that 

 policy. I believe that it is much better to be frank and look matters in 

 the face, even if it does involve the discussion of economic questions 

 with which they have a perfect right to be acquainted by the classes 

 chiefly concerned. Also I believe that, nowadays more than ever, if 

 you want a thing looked into and remedied you must make a stir 

 about it, for who is to move if the people primarily interested do not ? 

 This belief is my excuse for troubling you to-day. 



I hope that this may be your opinion also, and as now, to my own 

 satisfaction at any rate, I have proved : i. That there is a pro- 

 gressive shrinkage of the rural population in the Eastern Counties. 

 2. That such shrinkage constitutes a grave national danger. 3. That 

 its causes ought to be inquired into by Government with a view to their 

 mitigation or removal, I beg to move the resolution which has already 

 been read to you. 



