66 A NEW AGRICULTURAL POLICY 



that a single farmer filled with the desire for 

 gain will sow more wheat because he is ensured 

 against either a serious loss, or even against a 

 little loss ? He will withhold his hand from 

 sowing any particular crop if he sees nothing 

 but loss in front of him, however trifling the 

 loss may be. Farming may be a healthy way 

 of earning his living, but the farmer is not out 

 for the sake of his health. The world's prices 

 may stimulate farmers to bring second-rate 

 land under the plough for wheat, but the Act 

 certainly will not. 



11 Individually, I do not want a guarantee," 

 said Mr. J. M. Gardiner, M.P., a Scotch 

 tenant-farmer, to the House of Commons, 

 when the Agriculture Bill was under discussion. 

 11 1 am going to say to this House that if there 

 is a farmer, who knows his business, who does 

 not admit that during the past few years he 

 has been making a profit, then either his 

 veracity is not altogether accurate, or he is a 

 very poor farmer." 



" In my firm opinion," said Mr. Cautley, 

 K.C., M.P., " not a single acre of land will be 

 brought under cultivation as it (the Bill) now 

 stands. On the contrary, it will not even stop 

 the diminution of arable land that is now going 

 on in this country." Such was the considered 

 opinion of an ardent advocate of guaranteed 

 prices. 



Why, then, did the farmers sign the Majority 



