STATE AID FOR AGRICULTURE 195 



4. Equilibrium in the labour markets, with the bal- 

 ance turned towards demand, means greater indepen- 

 dence of workers, better demand and better wages. 



c. The land industry without other State aid than 

 suitable land tenures, a practical scheme of " small 

 proprietary holdings," an amended fiscal system, and 

 consistent encouragement to general agriculture, will be 

 as self-supporting as other industries. 



These are the chief contentions put forth in these 

 pages, and we should now focus them on to the main 

 consideration of our subject. 



The entire question, as we have seen, hangs upon 

 the development of the land industry, and its mainte- 

 nance as the chief means of support to the people, and 

 as the greatest source of wealth production in the 

 country. 



Nothing, therefore, must be allowed to interfere with 

 the establishment of agriculture on a firm, solid basis, 

 and if it be found that State aid, even of a direct nature, 

 be necessary to establish it on that sure basis, then let 

 us devote some of this extra revenue to that end. Our 

 business is to see that our great staple industry, upon 

 which so much depends, aye, even the life of a people 

 and the existence of a great world empire, be first of all 

 set up and then so carefully and jealously protected by 

 national safeguards that nothing may be allowed to 

 jeopardise it in any way. 



Safeguard this precious possession so thoroughly that, Subsidise 

 if it be found necessary in national interests even to Necesscry 

 subsidise it in some way, then do so by all means; and 



13a 



