Country Life COUNTY OR DISTRICT.
In the organization of country life a feud of long standing is dcveloping between County Councils and Rural District Councils, which liaire parallel and sometimes overlapping duties. Mr. Robertson Scott, in the last issue of his vivacious and original quarterly, the -Countryman, comes down whole- heartedly on the side of the Rural District Councils, because they have more local and intimate knowledge-and, apparently, because farmers are too powerful on the County Councils. He may or may not be right in certain points ; but it has to be confessed by the greatest friend of these little rural councils that they are a real hindrance to rural planning—not because they are not efficient, but because they are small. When Lord Milner began his campaign to save Kent from the threat of the coalfields and set in motion a really benevolent campaign for preserving rural England from this and other dangers, he was forced to spend the bulk of his energy in Persuading a dozen and more Rural District Councils to co- operate. A good ninety per cent. of the labour of any and every rural planning scheme is saved by substituting the county for the rural district authority, merely because of the width of area controlled. The Road Era does not accord with restricted spheres of influence. Both councils are needed ; but a rearrangement of their duties is becoming necessary,- if disagreeable and retarding jealousies are to be
avoided. * * * *
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