FAILURE OF PRIVATE ENTERPRISE 19 



fellow-farmers, who shouted directions as they 

 ruthlessly tore up their unproductive acres, 

 whilst others sent out with the drill were told 

 what seed to sow according to the needs of 

 the nation. 



A six years' charter had been drawn up, 

 which guaranteed farmers against serious loss 

 for sowing wheat and oats, by the fixing of 

 minimum prices. That was the carrot held in 

 front of them as they toiled across the furrows ; 

 but the size of the carrot was not to their liking, 

 and the longer they ploughed the smaller be- 

 came the carrot. County Agricultural Execu- 

 tive Committees would see that game should 

 not eat up their crops ; rents would not be 

 raised if the guaranteed prices came into effect ; 

 and the labourer should have what Mr. Lloyd 

 George was pleased to call a living wage of 

 25s. a week, including all allowances, which 

 sum could be further increased should the 

 newly-set-up Agricultural Wages Boards so 

 decide. 



When this Act was passing through its 

 difficult birth, in August 19 17, an attempt was 

 made by the Labour Party to raise the minimum 

 wage to 30s. instead of 25s. But Mr. Prothero, 

 with the plaintive wail of a plover passing over 

 derelict fields scarred with cattle hoofs, said 

 that the Corn Production Act would, if 30s. 

 was fixed as a minimum, soon become a Grass 

 Production Act. In spite of this pessimistic 



