The National Farmers' Union have sent to Mr. Wood, the
Minister of Agriculture, a letter about the Agricultural Conference. Mr. Wood's scheme is, of course, to bring together the -landowners, the farmers, and the labourers to draw up an agreed policy. In their letter the Farmers' Union asked for information which Mr. Wood cannot possibly give until he has heard the opinions of the other parties to the Conference. We are not sure whether the Farmers' Union mean that they cannot take part in the Conference unless Mr. Wood's answer to the letter satisfies them. . .If this is their meaning we trust that they will think twice before insisting. They asked whether the Government would offer a subsidy, and if so to what amount. But, surely, to find out what policy is the . best for arable farming—whether a subsidy is necessary or whether something else will suffice—is the whole object of the Conference. Naturally Mr. Wood has replied that he is unable to give the information. required. " Legislate first and inquire afterwards " is always a thoroughly bad principle. We sincerely hope that Mr. Wood and the whole Government are bearing in mind the importance of increasing ownership. Ulti- mately it is only by an increase of ownership, by spreading far and wide the magic of property, that Socialism can be fought. This is true of many things—of houses, of shares in all the industrial companies and so on— but it is particularly true of the land.
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