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378 . ECONOMIC INQUIRIES AND STUDIP
ceeded in the United States. Of course, there should
be a proportionate expenditure in other self-governing
parts of the empire, and the condition of India and
other parts where there are subject races ought not to
be overlooked. Such sums are not really extravagant.
Extensive diffusion of education and scientific know-
ledge and training are not only essential to the greater
efficiency of labour and capital by which the means of
living are provided, but they a~e equally needed for the
conduct of life itself, for the health and comfort of the
workers, their freedom from debasing superstitions and
prejudices, their capacity to enjoy the higher pleasures,
and their ability to manage all common affairs.
I t will be asked, perhaps, how are the necessary
sums to be obtained, as few suggestions seem practic-
able, on a broad survey of national expenditure, for
economy in other directions. When it is doubtful
whether large numbers of the people are adequately
fed and housed, it seems premature to suggest expendi-
ture on other ends which have not to the popular mind
so pressing a claim. The answer is partly that the
claim for education and scientific training is really more
pressing than any other, because it is the means to the
end of properly feeding and housing the great masses
of the people, and qualifying them as members of an
educated community. Another answer is that if we go
to work rightly the expenditure will be quickly re-
munerative. More efficient workers will produce more,
and in that way supply the funds for extending and
increasing the educational means of improvement.
There is yet another answer. One fault of the present
time is that people have been taking things too easily.
The means for educational improvement must be found,
if need be, by longer hours, harder work, and an increase
of the national output with the existing methods and
machinery. Our populations, in short, have, to some
extent, begun tt> play too soon, and they are not playing
in the right way. They are giving to football and
cricketing some of the time that should be given to