The whole problem of the National Debt would be very
seriously considered because the Debt caused a high cost of production. The Unemployed Grants Committee would be encouraged to continue its work. He saw openings especially for land drainage and the construction of light railways and new roads. Agriculture would, of course, not be forgotten, for its great importance was not really overlooked by Labour. There would be an overhauling of the entire rating system, and co- operative enterprises controlled by farmers themselves would be supported either by loans or by grants. In fact, agriculture would be helped to help itself—a delight- fully individualistic aspiration for a Socialist Government ! We welcome it. The Government would also appoint an expert committee to make a scientific survey of our national finances. It was necessary to know, for example, how far certain forms of taxes entered directly into the cost of production, and thus hampered trade, and how far other taxes were really to be considered as only taxes on luxuries. The financial inquiry, embracing the incidence of taxation, is evidently to be on a grand scale, and we are glad of it.
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