There are those who contend that these are but idle
tears, that it is as sentimental to bemoan the fate of the little shop as was in 185o to grow soppy about the dear old coaching days. I no analogy between the two occurrences. I think of my own vill shop, the proprietor of which is a man of enterprise, constantly p viding new things. I think of a widow in my own constituency,' is by no means the unhappy derelict of a receding economic age, a woman of great capacity who exercises a wide personal in& upon her neighbours in the working-class streets around. S people are in no sense survivals ; they are efficient valuable human elements in contemporary society. I ad that if we are to have a planned economy after the war it will easier for both Government departments and wholesalers to d with the great combines than to bother about the isolated and of muddle-headed retailer. I admit that the consumer may get chea and better material from the chain stores or the co-operatives. admit that it may be both sentimental and reactionary to dread coming of the Woolworth age. I agree that we had far too m small shops before the war, and that their number must inevita be drastically reduced. But both my heart and my head tell that the social and even the economic value of this class of the munity should be more clearly appreciated ; and that the Gov ment should devise plans for registration, licensing and co-oPerat which should enable the efficient small shopkeeper to remain existence. A defeatist policy towards this most serious problem assuredly lead to the extinction of a deserving and valued element the country ; but it should still be possible to rationalise A' having to destroy.
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