THE AGRICULTURAL CLUB. 



By the Agriculture Act passed December 23, 1920, the 

 guaranteed prices were put on a sliding scale basis varying 

 as the estimated cost of producing wheat or oats in any 

 year varied from the cost of production in the " standard " 

 year, which was taken to be 1919, a method which appeared 

 plausible on paper but in practice would probably have 

 been extremely difficult to apply satisfactorily. However, 

 it was perhaps fortunately never tested. 



In the latter part of 1918 the question of after-war 

 agricultural policy had been much under discussion, but 

 no definite action had been taken. 



In April, 1921, a paper dealing with agricultural policy 

 was read by Mr. W. R. Smith, M.P., the President of the 

 National Union of Agricultural Workers, and leader of the 

 Workers' representatives on the Wages Board. At that 

 time the Agriculture Act was universally regarded as the 

 embodiment of a national agricultural policy, settled after 

 mature deliberation and representing the considered views 

 of the Government. The remarks of Mr. Smith must be 

 regarded in the light of the circumstances existing when 

 he spoke : 



We are bound to consider how the land can best be used 

 in the interests of the whole community, and it is, therefore, 

 from that standpoint that we must consider its relation to Agricul- 

 ture. I firmly believe that the method generally adopted of 

 approaching this question is wrong. There is always a tendency 

 to look to the politicians to find a way out. The question 

 has been discussed as to whether protection or free-trade would 

 most benefit the industry of Agriculture, and lately we have been 

 proceeding along the lines of giving a guarantee to enable the 



