Food Crops in their respective Counties ; but even then, 

 the Food will not be forthcoming, if Farmers have to suffer 

 loss through carrying out the Government programme. 



It would appear that the National Food supply can only 

 be secured and maintained, so long as the State requires the 

 Farmer to produce on reasonable terms those crops and those 

 classes of stock, which are essential to the existence of the Nation. 

 There is no fear whatever of over production as long as proper 

 means are taken to deal with the food after it has been pro- 

 duced. 



Three common impediments which have been exercising 

 the minds of Farmers during the last few years, and which 

 have tended to discourage them from doing their utmost 

 for Food production are (1) The fixing of maximum prices 

 too low, (2) Insecurity of tenure, (3) Shortage of Labour. 



Fixing Maximum Prices. The power to fix maximum 

 prices for crops and stock is a great responsibility to place 

 in the hands of any man. If a maximum price is made 

 too favourable it may lead to over-production of that parti- 

 lar kind of produce. If it is put too low, there may be 

 an acute shortage. 



Such a shortage has already happened with Beef, due 

 to the original maximum price fixed for January, 1918, 

 being 60/- per live cwt. The effect has been that very few 

 cattle have been fed in stalls or cattle courts during this 

 winter. If a Farmer had bought his store cattle last autumn 

 at 70/- to 80/- per live cwt., and fed them with cake, hay, 

 straw and roots in the usual wa}/, he would have had an 

 adverse cash return on the tiansaction of anything up to 

 5 per head. The reluctance of Farmers to feed cattle this 

 Winter will then be readily understood. 



Maximum prices may often be fixed in such a way as to 

 have a moral effect on the producers and distributors con- 

 cerned. No loop-hole should be left for so-called smart 

 business. With a Farmer selling Fat Bullocks, the only 

 things that should count are the quantity and quality of actual 

 Meat and Offals produced. A system based on these lines 

 discourages immoral dealings or sharp practices, which is a 

 considerable advance over the pre-war temptations of 

 marketing. 



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