64 Agriculture and the Communit}). 



ment and management of land. It is even more important 

 to secure that those engaged in the industry are given full 

 opportunity to make the best use of their skill and capital. 

 That is not possible to-day on a great many estates. The 

 system has broken down entirely, and the State must 

 assume the responsibility if the industry is to progress. 

 There is no other way. But more is required than merely 

 to replace the landowners who cannot function as effective 

 managers of the land. The whole attitude towards the 

 control and use of land must be altered. We cannot afford 

 to allow private individuals to control land for their own 

 purposes irrespective of the interest of the general 

 community. If we are tO' make agriculture a successful 

 industry the control and use of land suitable for that end 

 must be made the primary object. To' withhold large 

 tracts of useful land from cultivation merely to provide 

 amenities for the residences of rich persons is a distinct 

 loss to the community. The partial or complete waste 

 of land for sporting purposes may be a commercial gain 

 to the proprietors or a social privilege they value and 

 are prepared tO' pay for, but it is nevertheless a loss to 

 the nation. No' other nation so wastes land as we do in 

 these directions, and until we are prepared to change our 

 attitude we cannot be said to take our agricultural industry 

 seriously. 



The logical course to pursue would be to nationalise 

 the land. No community can be master of its destiny so 

 long as the soil of the country remains private property. 

 In every effort we make as a people to bring order and 

 method out of the chaos and conflict which are the normal 

 conditions of our social and industrial life, we are brought 



