CHAPTER V 

 THE AGRICULTURE ACT AND ITS FUTILITIES 



SUPPORTERS of the present Government 

 will no doubt argue that provision has 

 recently been made, by the setting up 

 of County Agricultural Committees under the 

 Ministry of Agriculture Act, 19 19, and by the 

 extension of powers granted these newly formed 

 bodies under the Agriculture Act, 1920, to close 

 up the gaps left in our national agricultural 

 policy by uncontrolled private enterprise. 

 They will argue that most of the abuses from 

 which we now suffer will surely be eradicated 

 by these Committees, which have the enormous 

 powers of administering the Small Holdings 

 and Allotments Acts, the Diseases of Animals 

 Acts, the Destructive Insects and Pests Acts, 

 the Fertilisers and Feeding Stuffs Act, Part 

 I. of the Land Drainage Act, 19 18, the Rats 

 and Mice (Destruction) Act, Part IV. of the 

 Corn Production Act, 1917, as eviscerated by 

 the Agriculture Act, 1920, and Part II. of the 

 Land Drainage Act, 19 18. In addition, these 

 Committees are charged with fostering rural 



industries — whatever these may be. They will 



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