X PREFACE 



on farms, because they know that, for most of 

 them, agriculture is a bhnd alley without any 

 opening, and that the low rate of pay prevents 

 them from saving enough for an independent 

 start. Can nothing be done in such cases to 

 make agricultural employment more of a career ? 

 It is as a remedy for this cause of depopula- 

 tion that both political parties are agreed in 

 desiring to place agricultural labourers on the 

 land, whether as tenants or as owners, by the 

 aid of public money, lent either to public 

 bodies or to the men themselves. Both parties 

 seem to be also agreed that an admixture of 

 small holdings is socially beneficial to the com- 

 munity, and that the output of certain kinds 

 of produce may, under favourable conditions of 

 soil and locality, be increased by the intensive 

 cultivation of small-holders. Beyond these 

 points of agreement there is considerable 

 conflict of opinion. The Government favour 

 occupying tenancy; the Unionists support 

 occupying ownership. Obviously the real ques- 

 tion is, not which system will breed most 

 political supporters of one side or the other, 

 but which system gives the best security for 

 the investment of public money, promises the 



