THE NEW OUTLOOK 105 



fed that he could keep his labour bill down to the 

 minimum, but what has been the cost to the nation 

 of that mania for cheap food ? 



Between the years 1875 and 1895, the capital 

 of the agricultural industry was reduced by 

 ;f830,ooo,ooo, our rural population was depleted, 

 our towns became so overcrowded as to constitute a 

 menace to the national physique. Further, hundreds 

 of thousands of men were lost to the United Kingdom 

 and the Empire through emigration, and this during 

 a time when in organised countries, by means of 

 a wise policy of land development, the rural popula- 

 tion was not only increasing, but its standard of 

 comfort was improving. 



If we could translate these losses into terms of 

 pounds, shilhngs and pence, we should find that 

 nothing in the World's history was ever more 

 chimerical than the popular belief that the nation 

 was obtaining cheap food. As a matter of fact, it 

 was the dearest food supply ever bought by any 

 nation, since the days of ancient Rome. 



The War is teaching us, swift and sure and sharp, 

 that this is not merely a conflict between the Free 

 Trade and Protectionist Schools. It is something 

 far bigger : we have to find a New Outlook which 

 will ensure the safety of the country and the stability 

 of the Empire. 



Let the urban dwellers realise that their own well- 

 being and the rural well-being are interdependent. 

 Let them ask themselves if they would not feel safer 

 if we drew our main supply of food from sources 

 over which we have complete control. Let them 

 ask themselves — selfishly if you will — if it would 



