BELGIUM. 



REPORT OF THE " COMMISSION FOR THE CUI.TIVATIOX OF 

 WASTE LAND, " AND THE MEASI'RES PROPOSED FOR THE 

 CONSIDERATION OF THE CrOVERNMENT. 



sources: 



Commission de la Mise en Valeur des Terres Incultes: Rapport general {Com- 

 mission for tlie Cultivation of Waste Land: General Retort). Department of Agriculture 

 and Public Works: Rural Office: Reports and Communications; no. 6. Brussels. Printed 

 by M. Weissenbruch. 6913. 



§ I. Origin anp office of the commission. 



In the number of this Bulletin for February, 191 3, the subject of the 

 rise in price of food stuffs, and especially of meat, in Belgium, was fully 

 examined. This is one of the problems most urgently demanding solution 

 to-day and there is not a single country in which it has not presented itself 

 in recent years. 



Much has been written about its causes, which are certainly complex, 

 but the principal seems to be that production does not keep pace with 

 consumption , which has considerably increased, not merely in industrial but 

 also in agricultural centres. 



In Belgium the crisis became acute in 1911, owing to drought and thrush 

 fever which seriously affected agricultural production and especialh^ animal 

 produce. 



In the summer the markets were disturbed by the so-called " butter 

 riots " and the lively protests of the consumers. 



In view of these events, political bodies, associations and private 

 students have turned their attention to the problem, in search of adequate 

 remedies. 



The important subject was also dealt with in the Chamber of Re- 

 presentatives, in consequence of certain questions presented in various 

 sessions in January, 1911. The debate was almost exclusively on the subject 

 of the high price of meat, and closed with the approval of a resolution, pre- 

 sented by M. Hellequette, expressing confidence in the measures the Govern- 



