ding societies have been very useful in accomplishing the
original objects of such societies; in other cases, for reasons above
indicated, they have been a failure. By using the credit of the
Government money to enable properties to be acquired can be obtained, or
could have been obtained, at a lower rate. Instalments covering interest
at that rate and providing a sinking fund towards the repayment of the
principal would be of substantially less amount than the subscriptions
to the building societies, and would not exceed the rents tenants have
been accustomed to pay without any prospective advantage. Schemes to
practise thrift and to induce people to take a greater interest in their
homes and to enable them to acquire homes which are really attractive on
reasonable terms are to be encouraged by every means which the
Legislature or private individuals can adopt without causing
pauperisation. The object can be achieved on fair business terms and
without substantial risk of loss. Under the Ashbourne and the Wyndham
Acts in Ireland there has been, at all events until recently,
practically no failure to pay the required instalments.

A committee has been appointed to investigate the housing question, and
its reports will no doubt contain valuable suggestions for dealing
practically and at once with a matter so vitally important to the
rebuilding of Britain.

CHAPTER XX

AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

_In all kingdoms this first and original art
[agriculture]--this foundation of all others--must be
pursued and encouraged, or the rest will faint and be
languid._--ARTHUR YOUNG.

The most important practical reform of all is to make the land more
productive, to put it to the most profitable use. By profitable use we
do not mean using it so as to bring the owner the largest return in
money per acre, aiming at the largest net profit by reducing expenditure
as much as possible and growing whatever will fetch the highest price at
least cost of production. The really useful object is to lay out and use
all the land of the country in such a way as to produce the greatest
aggregate of commodities which are of real intrinsic value for use or
which can be exchanged for useful commodities coming from other nations;
in particular to produce in our own country as much wholesome food as
possible, and in so doing to support as large an agricultural population
as possible in reasonable comfort and health. To grow