AGRARIAN POLITICS. 97 



those who were born and bred on it. Sentiment, he 

 observed, played a large part in life, and he mentioned that 

 when certain relatives of his emigrated to Canada they took 

 with them a pot of English soil. Mr. George Edwards 

 averred his belief in small holdings if they were associated 

 with a proper system of co-operation. Mr. Hewitt, as a 

 small holder himself, remarked that the small holding was 

 one of the factors which would help to work out the 

 country's salvation. He stated that of nine men who took 

 small holdings at the same time as himself none would wish 

 to go back to their previous position. He believed, how- 

 ever, that the nationalisation of the land would be beneficial. 

 The " touch of Nature," which makes the farmer and the 

 small holder kin, was apparent in his observation that the 

 application of science to farming might be carried too far. 

 For example, he said, scientists were trying to get some- 

 thing to take the place of farm-yard manure, but this would 

 never be satisfactory. Thus we had another exposition of 

 the old familiar axiom that " There's nothing like muck." 



Mr. Smith made some arresting remarks about the 

 retention of the labourers on the land. " He must not be 

 tied on, but the social amenities must be such as to give 

 him a desire to remain there. It has often been said that 

 the Battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of 

 Eton. If there is any meaning at all in that statement 

 then it must follow that facilities for recreation would make 

 better men and women in the villages." He also lamented 

 the deterioration in craftsmanship, and observed that the 

 Norfolk County Council had sent Mr. Hewitt round to teach 

 thatching, as the number of labourers who knew the art 

 was so small. An educational system was required which 

 would fit the labourer for his work. 



In summarising his conclusions, Mr. Smith said : 



I suggest then, in the first place, that to develop Agriculture 

 fully and successfully, the land should be nationally owned 

 and controlled so that it may be ready and available for any 

 developments in the industry. Secondly, there must be an 

 attempt to associate more closely the activities of the farmer 

 and the labourer. I hope that is not impossible. There are 



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