My belief is based on practical experience; my point of view is that of the economist.

When the new economic mission in Ireland began now fourteen years ago, we had to undertake, in addition to our practical programme, a kind of University extension work with the important omission of the University.

We had to bring home to adult farmers whose general education was singularly poor, though their native intelligence was keen and receptive, a large number of general ideas bearing on the productive and distributive side of their industry.

Our chief obstacles arose from the lack of trained economic thought among all classes, and especially among those to whom the majority looked for guidance.

The air was thick with economic fallacies or half-truths.