Evening star., 1943-03-22


and the modern amusementS of
the cinema and wireless, to which
will soon be added television, life
in the country and on the land
ought to compete in attractive
ness with life in the great cities.
But all this would cost money.
When the various handicapS of
war conditions are at an end
| expect that better national
housekeeping will be possible and
that as a result of technical i'm
proVements in British agricul-
ture the strain upon the state
will be relieved.
At the same time, the fact
remains that if expansion and
improvement of British agricul-
ture is to be maintained, as it
must be maintained, and rea-
sonable level of prices is to be
maintained, as it must be main
tanned, there are likely to be sub
Stantial charges which the state
must be prepared to shoulder.
Next there is the spacious do
main Of public health. 1 was
brought up on the maxim of
Lord Beaconsfleld which my
father was always repeating:
Health and laws of health" We
must establish on broad and solid
foundations national health
service.
Here let me say that there is
no finer investment for any
community than putting milk
into babies. Healthy citizens are
the greatest asset any country
can have. One of most SOnber
anXieties which beset those who
look 30 or 40 or so years ahead,
and IN the field one can see ahead
only too clearly, is a dwindling
birth rate in 80 years. Unless
present trends alter, smaller
working and fighting population
will have to support and protect
nearly as many old people: In
80 years the position will be worse
still. If this country is to keep
its high place in the leadership
Of the world and to survive as a
great power that can hold its
own against external pressure,
our people must be encouraged
by every means to have larger
families.
For this reason, we'll thought
out plans for helping parents to
contribute this lifespring to the
community are of prime impor-
tance. Care of the young and
establishment Of sound hygienic
conditions Of motherhood have a
bearing upon the whole future of
the race which is absolutely vital.
Side by side with that is war
upon disease, which so far as it
Is successful will directly aid the
national insurance scheme. Upon
all this, planning is vigorously
proceeding.
Broader, More Liberal
Education Is Needed.
Following upon health and
welfare is the question OF educa-
ton. The future of the world is
left to highly educated races who
alone can handle the scientific
apparatus necessary for pre-
eminence in peace or survival in
war. I hope our education will
become broader and more liberal.
All wisdom is not new wisdom
and the past should be studied If
the future is to be successfully
encountered. To quote Disraeh
again in one Of his most pregnant
sayings: Nations are governed
by force or by tradition" In NOV
ing steadily and steadfastly from
class TO national foundation
in politics and economies of our
society and civilization. we must
not forget the glories OF the past
nor how many battles we have
fought for the rights of the in
dlvidual and for human freedom.
We must beware of trying to
build a society in which nobody
counts for anything except the
politician or official, society
where enterprise gains no reward
and thrift no privileges. say
TRY to build because of all the
races in the world our people
would be the last to consent to
be governed by bureaucracy.
Freedom is their life blood.
These two great wars. Scourging
and narrowing mems souls. have
made the British nation the mas
ter in its own house The people
have been rendered conscious
that they are coming into their
inheritance.
The treasures of the past, the
toll Of the centuries, long, built
up conceptions of decent govern
ment and fair play and tolerance
which comes from the free work.
ing of the parliamentary and
electoral institutions and great
colonial possessions for which we
are trustees in every part of the
globe-all these constitute parts
of this inheritance and the ma
ton must be fitted for its re-
sponSibilitieS and high duty
human beings are endowed with,
infinitely varying qualities and
dispositions, and each one is diff
ferent from the other. We cam
not make them all the same. 1t
would be pretty dull world if we
did.
1t is in our power. however. to
secure equal opportunities for all.
Facilities for advanced education
must be evened out and multi
piled. Nobody who can take ad-
vantage of higher education
should be denied this chance.
You cannot conduct a modern
community except with an ad-
equate supply of persons upon
whose education, whether human
ltarian. technical or scientific,
much time and money has been
spent.
There is another element
which should never be baniShed
from our system of education.
Here We have freedom of thought
as well as freedom of conscience.
Here we have been pioneers of
religious liberation.