PROniTTION 75 



is none the less essential if we are to recuperate rapidly 

 from the eftects of the war. 



How ditierent the attitude and action of other European 

 Governments and peoples ! In every continental 

 country the Government and all classes of the population 

 were determined to see that the land produced its 

 maximum. This is the first general comparison. We 

 will n<jw pass on to the consideration of production in 

 Germany, Belgium, Denmark and France. 



GERMANY 



Left to shift for itself, our agricultural industry was 

 showing little sign of expansion during the decades 

 preceding the war, as will be seen from our production 

 figures for the 25-year period between 1888 and 1913. 



And comparison with the German production figures 

 for the same period emphasizes the unsatisfactoriness 

 of our results. To illustrate this point, I am using an 

 excellent set of diagrams prepared by Mr. Richardson, 

 the agricultural adviser to the Government of the State 

 of Victoria (Australia). 



In considering the results achieved, we must remember 

 that unlike ourselves the Germans concentrated upon 

 securing a flourishing agriculture. All that science and 

 education and (organization could do for the development 

 of the land was done. And Germany's protective tarifi" 

 had the effect of giving the German farmer confidence 

 that he would get a fair return for his cflorts. 



DIAGRAM I 



This shows that between 1888 and 1913 our production 

 of cereals actually decreaseil to a small extent ; potatoes 



