Fortunes for Farmers 



take 45s. as representing a ten years' average.) This 

 would prevent potatoes falling to 20s. per ton, 

 and the consequent loss to farmers and labourers 

 and the disorganization of a great industry. After 

 such a spell of low prices potatoes go down in 

 acreage and then up go the prices; indeed, as it is, 

 ours sometimes reach £$ or £6 a ton. This example 

 will serve for all our food products. 



It will be realized that both farmer and con- 

 sumer must benefit by regular prices and fair living 

 profits. Agriculture must be carried on, and it is 

 to the national interest that it is done at a profit, 

 and be enabled to pay its labourers a fair living 

 wage and maintain a thriving healthy rural popu- 

 lation. Therefore there is a reasonable probability 

 of some such scheme being carried into force when 

 we as a party are strong enough to see to it. No 

 one would fight to the death to prevent it, for we 

 should not necessarily raise prices at all over an 

 average of a few years. We ask for the well-recog- 

 nized principle of " fair wages," and must see that 

 we get it. With this assurance intensive culture 

 would spread, more capital would be invested, we 

 should be less dependent upon foreign supplies, 

 and this could be done without any one's food 

 " costing him more." 



This is the Protection that we want — this, and 



34 



