76 THE MINORITY REPORT 



conditions of life which alone will induce them to come. 

 This involves two things : firstly, there must be an 

 alteration of agricultural methods so as to caU for more 

 labour ; secondly, farmers must . be secured such a 

 return from agriculture as will make it profitable for 

 them both to alter their farming methods and to pay 

 all the men employed the higher wages. And it must 

 be borne in mind that if better conditions of life are to 

 be provided as an inducement to the ex-Service men, 

 they will have to be provided all round for all agri- 

 cultural labourers. Higher wages to ex-Service men 

 would be neither practicable nor desirable. 



7. The Majority divide their report into three 

 sections : 



(a) Filling the gap caused by the war. 



(b) Temporary relief measures, such as the re- 



clamation of waste land, to be adopted only 

 if there is widespread unemployment in the 

 country at the time of demobilisation. 



(c) Suggestions towards the alteration of agri- 



cultural methods which would have the effect 

 of increasing the agricultural population. 



It is chiefly on section (c) that we differ from the 

 Majority. In regard to section (b) we concur in all 

 they say, though, as we indicate below, we think that 

 such reclamation work should be undertaken in any 

 event, and not only if there is widespread unemploy- 

 ment, and further, that it may well be combined with 

 ultimate permanent employment on the land. 



8. We also agree in general with their views in section 

 (a) as to the means to be adopted to induce non- 



