Land Problems and National Welfare 



is deplorable — the housing in our towns is far 

 worse than it is in Germany or Austria; and 

 those who study social conditions are appalled 

 at the poverty that exists in England and at the 

 number of children who grow up on insufficient 

 food and without legitimate opportunity to 

 develop into useful citizens. 



English people may not like to concern them- 

 selves with problems, but a vague sense of 

 dissatisfaction has been spreading throughout 

 the country, a feeling that all is not well, and 

 that something should be done. This feeling, 

 which has been simmering during the long period 

 of quiet transition, found sudden expression in 

 the election of 1906. This election marked a 

 new period in English political history ; the 

 country definitely abandoned the Conservative 

 party, Labour for the first time became a power 

 in Parliament, and the Liberal party became 

 socialistic. It is essential to recognise this great 

 change that has swept over the nation, if the 

 whole social and political situation is to be 

 clearly understood. It is futile to repeat the 

 old clap-trap as to the swing of the pendulum — 

 it does not account for the present condition 

 in the political world. 



That fewer Labour Members and fewer 

 Liberals were returned at the last election does 

 not to my mind affect the case. The people 

 may be turning from Free Trade to Protection, 



286 



