8 INTRODUCTION 



tion of agriculturists, since, from their social position and 

 educational advantages, they had greater facilities for 

 realising a situation. 



In every industry there are many individuals who prefer 

 to remain isolated. The percentage that \vill combine may 

 be divided into the capable energetic workers, the apathetic 

 and slow thinkers who will follow their leaders, and the self- 

 assertive individuals who will join anything which gives them 

 a chance of bringing themselves into prominence. The 

 percentage who will not join are the most ignorant, or lazy, 

 of their group. Some of these may refrain from dislike of 

 publicity, while some, being themselves incapable, are jealous 

 of others who are able to understand questions of moment 

 and to take a lead. The selfish men will say : " There are 

 plenty of others to do the work," but these are ready enough 

 to share any benefits that may accrue from such work. There 

 are others who, though incapable of seeing the advantages 

 to be gained by political activity, will appreciate and respciid 

 to tangible benefits. In abnormal times, whether caused 

 by threatened or actual attacks from other groups, or by a 

 wave of political feeling, many of those who remain outside 

 the organised ranks will join for a short period, but they soon 

 drop out and can never be relied upon. 



These features are not peculiar to the agricultural community 

 only, though probably the followers of that industry are, 

 owing chiefly to the isolated lives they lead, more difficult 

 to organise than any other. At first sight this might seem 

 sufficiently disheartening to prevent the expenditure of energy' 

 in any effort to bring them together, but it is a drawback by 

 no means fatal to success, for the unorganised, however 

 numerous, are practically voiceless. Let their feelings be 

 ever so much aroused, they have no leaders, no concentra- 

 tion, no trust in each other, and probably no speakers with 

 knowledge of the matter of the moment. The organised, 

 therefore, even if the weaker, can superimpose their desires 

 upon the whole industry. Notwithstanding this power, it 

 will be found throughout this history that demands made 

 by the Chamber have not been put forward selfishly, but that 



