ALTERNATIVES 43 



seize an oocasknu If we do not take tins opportunity, 

 and the farmeTS continue to consolt tfaeir own intereBts, 

 as they will be quite justified in doing as csatioas 

 men, more and more land will go down to grass ; tlie 

 rural population will become scantier still, and ulti- 

 mately the State will be fGtced to step in and take 

 OTer the business of food prodnctkin in ocd» tiiat 

 the nation may be secure. 



But if there is one thing ni(»e tiian anotlier tiiat a 

 farmer dislikes, it is b^i^ oontrolled or infterfeied 

 with by officials. To him the inquisitions of tiie sani- 

 tary inspector, or of any official of the local mntliocity, 

 are the last word in impertinence. The fanner would 

 do well therefore to recognise that all the ccmditions 

 have changed, and that he had better put up with a 

 small amount of interventian lest wasao befaQ him. 

 On this subject the mind of the public is forming itself 

 rapidly. Eren if the public did not pnoeive that 

 the safety of the nation requires a definite agricultural 

 policy, they would insist tiiat the discharged scddiers 

 and sailors who wish to go on the land should be 

 treated in their wages and tfa»r housing as such men 

 deserre to be treated. KotMng can be too good for 

 them, and whatever is likely to be done wiQ faXL short 

 of the compensationB and rewards iHiich are their 

 due. But you cannot have one wage for <dd soldieis 

 and sailors and anothiK for civiEans. The abs ur dity 

 of such an idea is instantly apparrait. 



These considerations are oommiNDded to those who 



''' rHDsed on economic principles to hold out against 



^um wage. Their principle may be peatfedfy 



80und in itself, but as Sir Robert Gifien used to say. 



