viii. Agriculture and the Community. 



When the essay was written the Government policy of 

 subsidising agriculture was in operation, and I discussed 

 at some length the effect of that policy and gave my 

 reasons why I thought the policy was a bad one. The 

 sudden reversal of that policy a few days ago may seem 

 to render that section of the essay superfluous. I have 

 decided to let the section stand as written. I think I may 

 claim that there at least my argument has been proved 

 true. 



The farmers have reason to complain that they have 

 been unfairly dealt with by the Government. Whether 

 they were wise in trusting the industry to the vagaries of 

 politics is another matter. They cannot say they were 

 not sufficiently warned. Those of us who were in the 

 minority on the Royal Commission on Agriculture did our 

 best to warn them of the risks they were running, but 

 without avail. For the Government there is no excuse. 

 Not only was the policy of guarantees adopted by the 

 Government, but an attempt was made to give it a per- 

 manency unusual in legislation in this country by the 

 proviso for four years' notice of change. They have 

 broken faith with the farmers. The fact that they can do 

 so with impunity is the bitter lesson for the farmers. No 

 Government could carry on a policy of subsidising farmers 

 which would entail large drafts on the taxpayer, and when 

 the farmers realise that fact we shall have come to the 

 end of guaranteed policies and protection. 



The farm workers in England have much more reason 

 to complain of the Government change of policy regarding 

 their wages. The establishment of the Wages Board 

 altered the whole position in the industry in the fixing of 



