AN IMPERIAL CONSERVATION BOARD 125 



the Empire. The first duty of a Land Settlement 

 Department of the United Kingdom would naturally 

 be to see that a fair and necessary proportion of 

 settlers were secured for ourselves. But as this 

 is also a question of utmost importance to our 

 Dominions as well as to ourselves, we should find a 

 Government Imperial not merely in name but in very 

 deed guiding the flow of people to our Dominions as 

 an essential to the welfare of the whole Empire ; 

 and the Dominion Governments concurring in the 

 building up of the agricultural population in the 

 United Kingdom, as the source of their own future 

 supply of food producers. 



Was ever argument more strong in favour of 

 concerted action ? The time has come for a great 

 Imperial Development and Conservation Depart- 

 ment — resident in London and including representa- 

 tives of the Dominions. We shall of course hear 

 permanent officials and certain politicians raise great 

 objection to the creation of a new department, on 

 the grounds that there is "no need for it " — for, as 

 far as the mind of the permanent official is concerned, 

 times do not change and new needs do not arise, 

 even in a vast Empire such as ours, with its ever 

 increasing needs. But I doubt whether this attitude 

 of the superior mind which has created administra- 

 tive machinery so perfect as to suffice for all time 

 will prevail greatly with the people — after their ex- 

 perience during the last two years of official fore- 

 thought and efficiency. 



Already there is a growing opinion that there 

 should be a new Ministry of Commerce to deal with 

 the development of our Commerce, as the Board of 

 Trade is no longer considered adequate. This is 

 a proposition which, as it affects urban industry, 



