MINUTES OF EVIDENCE 



TAKEN BEFORE 



THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON AGRICULTURE. 



FIFTEENTH DAY. 



TUESDAY, OCTOBER I^TH, 1919. 



PRESENT. 



SIR WILLIAM BARCLAY PEAT (Chairman). 



DK. C. M. DOUGLAS, -C.B. MR. T. HENDERSON. 



MB. G. G. REA, C.B.E. MB. T. PROSSER JONES. 



MB. W. ANKER SIMMONS, .C.B.E. MB. E. W. LANGFORD. 



MR. HENRY OVERMAN, O.B.E. MR. R. V. LENNARD. 



MB. A. W. ASHBY. MB. GEORGE NICHOLLS. 



MB. A. BATCHELOR. MB. E. H. PARKER. 



MR. GEORGE DALLAS. MR. R. R. ROBBINS. 



MB. J. F. DUNCAN. MB. W. R. SMITH, M.P. 



MB. W. EDWARDS. MB. R.-B. WALKER. 



MR. F. E. GREEN. 

 Mr. JAMES GABDNEB, representing the National Farmers' Union (Scotland), called and examined. 



12.742. Chairman : You have very kindly put in a (6) Lack of education in agriculture as a science 

 statement of evidence to be given by you. May I take among the rank and file of agriculturists, 

 it as read, for the purposes of our records? Yes. (7) The absence of any definite State policy for 



12.743. You represent the National Farmers' Union agriculture in the future. 



of Scotland and you give evidence on their behalf ?- 12,747. These are some of the principal causes 



Yes, on their behalf on general policy. which militate against the proper development of 



our agriculture, and until they are remedied no great 

 advance can be looked for in home production. 



12.744. Tho National Farmers' Union of Scotland 12,74. The National Farmers' Union of Scotland 

 is an organisation in agriculture of recent origin. naB pressed the Government consistently for years for 

 Started in 1913 in a small way to assist milk pro- t he re moval of these disabilities and it is gratifying 

 ducers in the West of Scotland, it has now 137 to tne Executive to see that an honest endeavour is 

 branches throughout the country and every county being ma de by the present Government to remove 

 in Scotland is represented. The membership is about . 8Ome of tlle stumbling blocks. So far, however, tho 

 14,000 which is more than .50 per cent, of the farmer. Government has failed to make a pronouncement in 

 in Scotland, excluding small holders. ihip favour of Security of Tenure for the efficient agri- 

 is confined to tenant farmers and occupying owm culturist who pays his rent regularly and farms up to 

 who farm their own land. a recO gnised standard. This is unfortunate and re- 



12,74.5. All questions affecting the interests of pro- grettable as tboitwimls of good agriculturists have 



ducers in every department of farming are brought ] )een compelled to buy or quit their holdings within 



before the Executive and dealt with. In every way t jj e j agt two yean, owing to tho wholesale selling and 



possible as far as consistent with equity we assist breaking up of large estates into units in many 



and protect the interests of our members. cases straining their credit unwisely to purchase their 



12,746. Owing to the fact that the membership is holding rather than leave. 



confined to those only who are in touch with the 12,749. Cost of Production. In agriculture the cost 

 practical side of farming the Union is in a special O f producing crops or animals as between one farm 

 mannor enabled to advance reliable facts and figures ant j another or more generally between one locality 

 on all questions relating to costs of production, an( j another varies in a greater degree than in per- 

 financial return, remuneration of labour and working j,aps anv o ther industry in the country, and the re- 

 hours, and the effect of these factors collectively and turns are generally in inverse ratio, that is to say 

 individually on current prices. There are other wn ere the difficulties to be overcome are greatest and 

 factors not so direct in their immediate action in tne cogt consequen tl y highest the returns are. gene- 

 prices, which by reason of their deterrent effect on rally gpea king, smallest. This is why the fixing of a 

 production do -undoubtedly react adversely against fair prico for any thing produced on a farm at a flat 

 a lower scale of prices. These are: average rate is rendered so difficult. 



(1) Lack of sufficient security of tenure to enable 12,760. The Executive of the Farmers' Union of 



a tenant to develop his holding to its Scotland have always gone pretty thoroughly into cost 



fullest capacity by free use of capital and o f production since 1915, and it has been interesting 



enterprise. to gee how, as prices of produce advanced gradually 



(2) The inefficient and high cost of rural trans- during the war, the cost of production followed closely 



port. behind. 



(3) The more or less derelict condition of the 12,751. The only item on our Cost Sheets of Pro- 



permanent equipment of many farms in duction which did not change so generally from 1915 

 drainage, housing, and fencing, and the onwards, was the one of rent. All others rapidly in- 

 great difficulty at the present time of get- creased until the present time, when most items are 

 ting these put in a proper state of more than doubled and some are trebled in price, 

 efficiency. 12,752. As to the Financial Returns, these matters 



(4) Waste of food stuffs due to destruction by are usually of a private nature among members and 



gitme, and the consequent discouragement rarely discussed; but it must be evident to even the 



of crop production where such conditions merest tyro in agriculture that with controlled prices 



olitain. fixed at a flat rate those farms or localities where the 



f,ack of research into tho diseases of plants cost of production was low and the returns good, the 



and animals and the science of plant profits were bound to be considerable, whereas those 



breeding. localities and holdings where the crop returns were 



(28370-31) Wt. 2000 12'1 H. St. OM A3 



