15 JULY 1916, Page 3

Of one thing we may be sure. He will see

to it that schemes for land settlement and the development of agriculture and so forth shall be so carried out that the natural beauties and amenities of England, Scotland, and Wales are protected. No one wants to see the product of our land kept low or lands left desolate which should be cultivated in order to prevent the country from being rendered less beautiful than it is, but, as we have always contended, there is no reason why ugliness should go hand in hand with develop- ment. It is merely for want of a little care and forethought that the idea has grown up that economic improvement must always lead to the defacement of the countryside. Because we have land settlement there is no reason why the settlers' cottages should be degrading little villas, or why their farm buildings and sheds should look like the lamp-houses at suburban railway stations. Lord Crawford, we are sure, will not allow the scenery of the United Kingdom to be wantonly defiled by such atrocities.