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system akin to that which is known as credit…banks。 Thus supported； the soil of Denmark； which is on the whole poorer than our own and afflicted with an even worse climate； manages out of its small extent； equal only to that of Scotland； to export over twenty millions sterling worth of agricultural produce； chiefly to the British Isles； in addition to the amount which it keeps at home for sustenance in a densely populated land。
What Denmark does most undoubtedly the United Kingdom could do； though perhaps with some variation in the actual products。 This； however； will not； I think； happen under that aftermath of feudalism； our present system of hired farms； many of which are larger than the tenant can manage； and； as a consequence； indifferently cultivated。 Nor will co…operation on a large scale arise under these circumstances。 Owners with no landlord to run to must co…operate in self…protection； tenants； and especially large tenants； do not do so。
I was anxious to serve on the Development Board； in the interests of Afforestation； and also I felt that it had its roots； or at any rate some of them； planted in the soil of my book “Rural England。”
Here I will insert a note that I made of a conversation which took place between Mr。 Lloyd George and myself in May 1909； which throws a good deal of light upon this matter。
SUMMARY OF MY CONVERSATION WITH MR。 LLOYD GEORGE ON MAY 11； 1909。
（Made from notes taken on the same morning。）
On Friday the 7th of May I met Mr。 Lloyd George in Parliament Street。 He said he “must see me；” and after some conversation asked me to breakfast on the following Tuesday。
I began by putting the case for the adoption of our Afforestation scheme as forcibly as I could； arguing that Afforestation should be placed in the hands of a Permanent Royal mission。
The Chancellor’s answer amounted to this： That he was most anxious to see our Afforestation plan go through on whatever scale could be arranged。 He told me that this was very largely； if not chiefly； because I had personally succeeded in interesting him much in the matter when we met and stayed together at Carrow Abbey last year。 The advocates of Afforestation were； he considered； very fortunate in having to deal with him； since he was sure that no Chancellor who went before him； and none who were in the least likely to follow after him； would listen to them for a moment。 As it was he had but one earnest supporter in this matter in the Cabi — Winston Churchill。
I suggested John Burns also； inasmuch as the Labour party were all in favour of an Afforestation scheme。
He replied： No； at heart Burns was not in favour of it； and for the reason that the Labour party were。 He added that J。 B。 was “thoroughly wrong” with the Labour party。
In Parliament； Mr。 Lloyd George continued； this party was the only one from which he received any support as to Afforestation。 Although they had seemed to be in favour of it a few months ago； and even keen for it； the rest of the Liberal party now appeared to care nothing for it； while the Unionists of course were hostile on principle； also because they feared it would interfere with sport。
All these considerations made the matter difficult for him。 Also there was another。 In the Parliamentary war over the Budget the money necessary might easily be cut off。
I then passed on to the question of a permanent Royal mission。
He said he did not see how it could be managed for Afforestation alone； but that it might be for the purposes of the administration of the Development Grant as a whole。 Personally he was entirely adverse to the passing over of that Grant into the power of any official Department。
I replied that one permanent Royal mission to deal with the whole Development Grant y ideas； provided that Afforestation was adequately represented thereon。
I asked how many he would have on the mission。 He replied that he feared that it must be a large one； as he supposed it would be necessary to put on representatives of the various Public Offices。
A discussion then ensued as to who would be the best Chairman for the Development Board or mission。 We talked over various names that seemed to fulfil the qualifications he considered necessary； namely； that this Chairman should be a man of rank and wealth if possible。 As regards this point he said that there was some force in the criticism that the proposed Development Board might possibly bee a tool of party or other subtle form of corruption； and even descend to the perpetration of jobs。
I suggested that the way to avoid this would be to put on it none but men of the highest character who were known to be impartial and open…minded and who were generally respected by the country。 He agreed。
The names suggested for the Chairmanship； so far as I remember； were Lord Desborough； Sir Herbert Maxwell； and Lords Milner and Curzon （these two by myself）。 Lord Curzon； he thought； would bring a great deal of dignity to the office； but too much of the “viceregal manner。” Milner’s name he favoured； but finally seemed to conclude that he was in a sense too strong a man； who with his charming manner would invariably in the end get his own way； which might not always be the right way； and carry the mission with him。 Finally after a pause I suggested Lord Rosebery。
“Rosebery！” he said； sitting down and thinking。 “Rosebery！ the very man！ Politically detached； universally known； beyond suspicion； and a master of the subject。 The very man — that’s a stroke of genius of yours — if he will serve。”
I then said that I thought there ought to be a Vice…Chairman also； to which he seemed to assent。 I mentioned further that being much interested in all these subjects； I should like to serve on that mission if it were ever formed。 He nodded and raised no objection to this； but how much or how little that may mean I do not know。
When I bade him good…bye he was sending a secretary over to the Prime Minister to ask at what time he could see him that morning； in order； I understood； to discuss the whole matter。
The general impression left upon my mind is that Mr。 Lloyd George means to put this business through if he can； but owing to the great forces； secret and open； ranged against him and it； that he is not quite certain of his ability to do so。
On Christmas Day； 1909； I received a letter from Lord Ashby St。 Ledgers； my Chairman； in which he said：
I had a conversation yesterday with Lloyd George； and he intimated that he intended to offer you a post as missioner under the Development Board。
I told him it was slave…driving not to offer you a salary with it； but he said that his limit of 3000 pounds per annum had not enabled him yet to secure a permanent official； and that it would involve an amendment of the Act to provide anything for anyone else。
He spoke of Dick Cavendish for Chairman； and Horace Plunkett and an Irishman for the other two。
Then he goes on to talk of Afforestation in connection with the proposed Board。
I should explain here that although if a salary had e my way I should not have refused it； considering the time and work involved； money was not my object in wishing to serve on this Board。 That； as I subsequently informed Mr。 Lloyd George； I should have been glad to do for nothing as a piece of public duty。
Afterwards； by his direction； an interview took place at the Ritz Hotel between Lord Ashby St。 Ledgers； on behalf of the Government； Lord Richard Cavendish； and myself； at which we discussed the whole policy of the future administration of the Act。
It might now have been thought that this matter was settled； but again there proved to be many a slip； etc。
In order to put an end to the attacks Lloyd George went to Mr。 Walter Long； who was leading the Opposition on the Unionist side； offering to knock off one name — I believe it was that of my friend and colleague； Professor Somerville； though of this I am not sure — but saying “I must have Rider Haggard。” To this Mr。 Long agreed； and the matter was then adjourned to the following night — I think the last of the session。 Again the trouble began； and Sir Frederick Banbury； either throwing over or not knowing of the arrangement with Mr。 Long； threatened to stop the whole thing； once more in a thin House； unless th