A PLEA FOR THE COUNTRY PARISH
SIR,—There has been, within a few days, an appeal by The Times for the surrender of our Church Schools. This is such a departure from tradition, on the top of the inv3sion of an Archbishop into the details of economics, that there can be no harm in the ordinary man appealing for some consideration towards that venerable and admirable unit of government, the parish. One upholder of the Scott Committee's sug- gestion of "Village Colleges" all over the country told us that we must be formed into "Rural Regions." The thought of the returned soldier coming back after the war to such a " Region " without its village school or schoolmaster is unpleasant. Is this what he was fighting for? That "magic" ownership of land of the classical economists would be impossible for him. The village church might still stand, but who would worship there week by week? The final triumph of town over country would be complete and, between towns, would be a network of "Rural Regions" or suburbs. Finally, the long-suffering and, on the whole, admirable pastor of the flock would soon follow the squire into limbo. The old countryside from which the towns could still draw wholesome draughts of sweetness and strength would perish. Would an improved agriculture long survive?—Yours faithfully,
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