THE OBJECTIVE IX PRODITTION 1G5 



is important for agriculturists to realize the strength of 

 this public opinion ; and the Government, to comply 

 with it, will be forced to interfere more and more, and 

 we shall see a baneful development of official control. 

 The Ministry of Agriculture Act, the Acquisition of Land 

 Act and the Agriculture Act all combine to lay the founda- 

 tion of a new land system. It is important to understand 

 this point. Equally important is it to realize that if these 

 measures are not successful — are not tmide successful — 

 in creating a system under which the land will produce 

 more food and employ more people, then more drastic 

 experiments will be tried ; of this I am convinced. 

 Probably that new experiment will be in the direction 

 of nationalization of the industry, as distinct from the 

 nationalization of the land. 



Experimenting with a great industry is always 

 dangerous ; and I cannot believe that, under any form 

 of State management, the cultivator will ever give forth 

 his maximum output. 



The Government, therefore, should itself recognize 

 that bureaucratic control will not secure progress ; and 

 that its special sphere should lie in providing the 

 needed educational facilities, in supporting research, and 

 demonstration on a commercial scale, and in organizing 

 transport, markets, and access to capital. 



As I have said already, the only alternative to official 

 control, which is evil, is the control of the industry 

 by the individuals composing it. This is sound and 

 beneficial control ; but it presupposes organization, and 

 if the control is to be successful agriculturists must take 

 a broad and national view of the question. 



But what forces make for broad views more effectively 

 than wide education and sound training ? 



