6 OCTOBER 1923, Page 2

The Times of Monday published a letter from Sir John

Green (whose work in connection with rural indus- tries and the closer settlementof 'the land is well known) on subsidies for arable farming. He demands a subsidy -in the 'interests-of national safety. But not only for that reason. The increased-or maintained agricultural popula- tion which would be the result of the Policy of the Plough would ensure many other beneficial things—the growth of -rural industries and healthy -conditions for a large part of the population. We agree that it is extremely important to hold a balance between the life of the country and the life of the towns in the interests of the national physique. • * * *