Politics and the Land 



alternative will be the "group system," with 

 the Socialist group ever increasing in strength. 



In a former chapter I have laid stress on the 

 importance of organising the rural labourers and 

 bringing them into the movement of agricultural 

 consolidation. If a National party is ever to be 

 a power in the country it will have to win the 

 support of the workman, both rural and urban, 

 and not only so, but to give him his fair share 

 in the control of the general political organisa- 

 tion and of direct representation in the House 

 of Commons. 



There is little doubt that neglect of the work- 

 ing man on the part of the Unionists accounted 

 in a great measure for the debacle of igo6, 

 and it is a lesson which should be laid to 

 heart. 



The present state of politics and of feeling 

 among large numbers of moderate men through- 

 out the country seems to indicate that the time 

 is opportune for the unfurling of the banner of a 

 National party. 



It seems to me quite possible that a National 

 party, pledged to needed social reform as well 

 as to fiscal reform, would gain the support of 

 many politicians who would not swallow the 

 Tariff Reform pill unless sugared over with 

 reform in other directions ; but the crux of 

 the whole situation is — Who shall unfurl the 

 banner ? who can create and lead a National 



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