GENERAL PRINCIPLES 



things being the same, the relief afforded 

 by the Act is not now adequate. All 

 that can be said is that, but for the Act, 

 the position would have been so much 

 worse. If, however, there was a case for 

 relief in 1896, there is now a case for 

 further relief. 



But it is safe to assume that no further 

 relief will be obtained except as part 

 of a general scheme. Other classes and 

 interests also call for relief. The worst 

 of it is that there is no prospect of an 

 overflowing exchequer, and without it an 

 increase of relief in one direction can 

 only mean an increase of burden in 

 another. 



It folloivSj then, that the case for agriculture 

 cannot be treated in isolation, without regard to 

 general principles and general conditions. And 

 if my treatment appears too general, you 

 must remember that at present you cannot 



