90 LAND SETTLEMENT & EDUCATION 



more comprehensive policy had been put forward 

 there would be great danger of its being turned 

 down. Even as it is, it remains to be seen how 

 whole-heartedly the Government will enter into the 

 execution of the scheme. 



In the second place, the Committee have had to 

 build up a settlement policy with very little data 

 to go upon, for as I have shown, up to the present 

 Great Britain has maintained a unique position as 

 the only country that has never concerned itself 

 with land settlement. In spite of these difficulties 

 the Committee have certainly formulated the most 

 comprehensive policy that has yet been put forward 

 officially in this country. 



I am glad to acknowledge that in framing this 

 policy they have observed most of the fundamental 

 principles which have led to successful settlement 

 in other countries. It follows, therefore, that if the 

 pioneer colonies recommended are successful the 

 policy will prove capable of infinite expansion. 



But the points that I am most apprehensive about 

 are : — 



(1) The adequate provision of credit. It is true 

 that the Committee recommend the formation of 

 credit societies, but so did the Small Holdings Act of 

 1908, and so far nothing has been done in this 

 direction. What the Government ought to do is 

 to establish pioneer credit banks themselves : for 

 credit is the basis and essence of success in food 

 production, as it is in every other business.^ 



^ The German credit banks lend their members, the small 

 holders and cottagers, every day in the year, over ^^i, 000, 000 

 for the purpose of food production — and this is another of 

 those factors which keep Germany still standing upright when, 

 according to the rules of the game, she should have collapsed 

 long ago under the pressure of our blockade. 



