SHORTAGE OF WORK ii 



factors in the commonweal ; indeed, it must be admitted 

 that they are as essential to our welfare as the sun's in- 

 fluence is essential to the planet on which we live. But 

 here we must draw a firm line of demarcation. Trade and 

 industries are certainly among the highest essentials to 

 our existence as a great nation, but they are not the only 

 ones. If we trust entirely to them we fail, as we have 

 seen, and we must not fail any longer. We must supple- 

 ment these means of wealth, greatness and prosperity, 

 by other and surer means, that are not subject to out- 

 side influences, but that will afford unfailing employ- 

 ment to all who adopt them, quite irrespective of market 

 fluctuations and trade depressions. 



These means are to be found in the land, and only in 

 the land. The land in every country but our o^^^l forms 

 the staple industry, and constitutes the chief means 

 of employment, with the result that in every case there 

 is no such thing as widespread poverty and a huge mass 

 of pauperism, as we know it. 



Do not let us pass by this startling fact without con- 

 sidering what it means, for upon it hangs the welfare of 

 the British nation. 



We are, generally speaking, an untravelled people 

 and a busy people. If we go abroad for our short summer 

 holidays, we go for pleasure, and do not bother ourselves 

 about the institutions of the country we travel in, or its 

 trade, industries or constitution. If we go to Belgium, 

 for example, we are more interested in the splendid 

 Palais de Justice at Brussels, and the weird collection 

 of paintings at the Musee Wiertz, than in the wonder- 

 ful agricultural system of the country. 



