192 THE AGRICULTURAL CLUB. 



tion, whether they took it or not, the register being revised 

 fortnightly or monthly. Any person not on the register 

 who required milk, could obtain it from this source only in the 

 event of one of the registered persons being willing to give up 

 or reduce his supply. 



Under this arrangement the farmer was saved from petty 

 annoyances caused by callers coming to his back door for small 

 quantities of milk. He was also secured against bad debts, 

 while only those persons having business with him came on to 

 his farm premises. The villagers are now sure of their milk 

 supply and are saved from the necessity of a muddy walk to 

 the farm premises with the possibility of being unable even 

 then to get their requirements met. 



(c) Other " Essential " Requirements. Amongst other " essen- 

 tial " provisions must also be included arrangements for the 

 satisfactory disposal of sewage, either in the gardens or other- 

 wise ; the provision of a supply of wholesome water and other 

 matters of a like kind necessary for the health of the village. 

 Mention should perhaps be made, when considering essential 

 conditions, of access to playing fields. 



While, however, the County Committee can, and should, if 

 desired, assist with the provision of the ground required, I do 

 not think they ought to go much further, as the management 

 of the ground and its use to the best advantage should be left 

 to the villagers themselves. In this respect the village com- 

 munity can well work out their own salvation. 



In addition to these essential requirements the schedule should 

 draw attention to other minor matters, which are scarcely less 

 important in that they go far to make up the amenities of rural 

 life ; matters such as arranging for the marketing of the produce 

 grown in the village, and the development of suitable rural 

 industries. It is most desirable that greater facilities should 

 be given for the use of the telephone. A first practical step 

 should be for all country offices, now fitted with the ordinary 

 telegraph, to have their instruments converted into telephones, 

 and that all villages, through which posts carrying wires are now 

 laid, should, on demand, be provided with a telephone service. 

 The party telephone line is a failure. The essence of all com- 

 munication is that it should be speedy, and that it should also 

 be secret. The party telephone can never be made secret, and 

 that is the principal cause of its failure. The much-needed 

 expansion of the telephone service in rural districts must take 

 place on the lines of an efficient and secret service. 



I have not made any detailed reference to the question of the 

 development of rural industries, the subject is far too large and 

 varied for inclusion in this paper, and would require a paper all 

 to itself. The encouragement of appropriate kinds of rural 



