THE OBJECTIVE IN PRODUCTION 175 



An industry in transition is always in a most critical 

 state ; and it calls for the most careful consideration 

 on the part of the leaders of the industry to map out the 

 course along which it should progress — for the practical 

 leaders themselves should be the pilots and captains. It a 

 wise selection is made in the representatives sent from 

 the County Agricultural Committees to the Central 

 Agricultural Council in London, then this body should 

 be well fitted for the work of evolving an agricultural 

 policy ; a policy which would prove a chart to the present 

 sea of transition and would establish the new order in 

 the industry'. 



But we must mobilize all our forces, and everyone 

 with sound and constructive views should be enabled 

 to contribute his share to the working of the new admin- 

 istration. And it is a good omen that the r^Iinistry of 

 Agriculture Act definitely lays down that labour shall be 

 represented upon these new Executive bodies, and so 

 will have a definite share in the reconstruction of the 

 agricultural industr)- and of the conditions of country 

 Ufe. Quite a number of agricultural labourers who 

 have thought deeply on the problem, and their con- 

 tribution to the solution will be most valuable. 



To the agriculturists who say " All we want is 

 to be left alone," I answer that you cannot be left alone 

 — the industry must be organized. 



And not only the agricultural industry but the whole 

 nation. The war has dealt so shrewd a blow at our 

 national life that we are staggering under it, and our 

 future trembles in the balance. 



If tiie newly created committees and councils succeed 

 in fuhilling their functions, this good should result : 

 for the first time there will be an organi/.ed expression 

 of agricultural opinion. And the practical agriculturists 



