xxvi LAND REFORM 



man, and trader. In support of these views there 

 are several propositions contained in these pages, 

 namely : — 



(i) That the policy of placing trade and commerce 

 above agriculture is a wrong one. 



(2) That an amount of capital (including the 

 personal labour of the cultivator), invested in land 

 under the conditions of ownership, yields a greater 

 return to the community, and a wider distribution 

 thereof, than a similar amount invested in commerce 

 and manufactures. 



(3) That if health, physical strength, and a numer- 

 ous, fixed, rural population are to be reckoned as 

 national assets, agriculture, under the conditions named, 

 enriches a nation more than manufactures can do. 



(4) That the Home Trade is more certain, less 

 fickle, and, under the proposed conditions, would 

 become more valuable than the Foreign Trade. 



If I can succeed in arrestino- the attention of the 

 people generally to these propositions, and in showing 

 that the question treated is not one that affects 

 primarily landlords and farmers, but is one of national 

 concern — bearing directly on the welfare of all classes 

 of the community — then the main objects of the book 

 will be secured. 



It is, of course, useless to place these views before 

 those who regard agriculture simply as any other 

 trade, instead of as being the basis of all other trades. 

 They naturally ask, why should State aid be given to 

 agriculture any more than to other industries .-* This 

 limited and mistaken view was taken by the Minister 

 in charge of the Small Holdings and Allotments Bill 

 passed last year. In describing that Bill he said, " I 



