SHORTAGE OF WOUK IN OUR TRADES 95 



bis occupation and support, there can be no doubt ; while it is 

 also certain that the laud is capable of, and does, produce all 

 that is necessary for his subsistence. It is also true that no 

 other industry is capable of doing this. 



The land industry must, therefore, be regarded as the greatest 

 of all industries. It is a natural industry, and, in relying upon 

 it as his chief means of support, man is but obeying a natural 

 Imv. Neglect the land, and he is bound to suffer, because he 

 thus sets up an artificial economic existence for himself which 

 is sure to have dire effect in time. 



In the laud, then, lies man's chiefest good and the nation's 

 pabulum. 



]\Iany of our publicists, however, elated with the expansion of 

 our national trade which, after all, is nothing more or less than our 

 legitimate share of that great national expansion of the world's 

 trade wliich is being experienced and shared by every country, 

 and fondly believing that commercial and industrial prosperity 

 alone will bear us along to a haven of rest and security against 

 all our social and economic troubles, point to this trade expan- 

 sion as a sure means of relieving the situation. Even so high 

 an avithority as Mr. Balfour, in his speech on the introduction 

 of the Scottish Laud Bill on March 20, 1907, speaking of the 

 Eepeal of the Corn Laws as a means of stimulating manufactur- 

 ing industries, said — 



" It was deliberately intended by its authors to stimulate that great 

 growth of the manufacturing population which I view without 

 dismay or regret, because I recognise it is the only possible mode in 

 Avliich the popuhiLion of this country can largely incret^se or its 

 wealth augment, to meet the great Imperial needs with which we 

 have to deal." 



It is clear from this that Mr. Balfour still believes in our 

 manufactures as the national pabulum, the only source from 

 which we may hope to draw those ever necessary supplies of 

 men and money, upon which depends the existence of the 

 Empire. 



That that statesman's views in this connection have not 

 changed since he uttered those fateful words is shown from the 

 following excerpt of his speech to the House on Eebruary 19, 

 1909 : — 



" If this country is to grow in population, in wealth, and in 

 prosperity, the greater part of the growth, owing to questions of the 

 area and size, must be on the side of the manufacturer. . . . AVhat- 

 ever you do with agriculture in this country, if every particle of 

 available land is cultivated up to the highest capacity, it will still 



