PRINCIPLES OF THE POLICY 117 



again should be the chief instrument used by the 

 Government. 



(3) The provision of Credit Banks and Societies, 

 and access to capital generally. 



(4) Education : This must be made more practical 

 if it is to meet the needs of the times. 



(5) The present conditions of transport for agri- 

 cultural produce must be improved and the con- 

 struction of light railways encouraged as has been 

 done in Belgium. 



(6) Better wages for agricultural labourers : 

 " Socially and economically the labourer is the root 

 of the agricultural problem. It is characteristic of 

 agriculture, distinguishing it from other industries, 

 that the individual worker plays a more important 

 part in its economy. It is common to talk of 

 agricultural labourers as unskilled. In truth, a good 

 agricultural labourer — who, owing to the present 

 trend of agricultural development and the conse- 

 quent emigration, is to-day much rarer than he 

 ought to be — is essentially a skilled workman. In 

 many counties the great majority of labourers 

 are ill-educated and ill-fed, and consequently in- 

 efficient both mentally and physically." In these 

 counties it is absolutely essential that the rate of 

 wage should be higher, and if there is no other 

 way of effecting it, then some form of wages board 

 will have to be resorted to. 



(7) The reconstruction of Village Life. The 

 necessity for offering the labourer an opportunity of 

 acquiring an interest in the land, and thereby in- 

 creasing his earnings, is of equal importance with 

 a direct increase in wages. Such opportunities 

 will create for the labourer a future on the land, 



