III. 

 A National Policy. 



The Need for Change. 



I have endeavoured to describe the present position of 

 the agricultural industry in this country, and I have out- 

 lined and criticised the proposals usually made for placing" 

 it on a sounder basis. It may be useful if I summarise 

 before discussing further proposals. 



Agriculture in this country is less productive than it 

 ought to be because the owners of land are not primarily 

 concerned in promoting the industry. They have failed 

 to maintain the permanent equipment, or to manage the 

 land so as to enable the competent farmers to make the 

 best use of it, or to prevent the incompetent farmers from 

 wasting land. The landowners admit their inability to 

 improve their position. There is a minority of farmers 

 who are equal to the best in any country, and who, given 

 proper opportunities, would do even better. A large 

 proportion, from various causes, are farming the land 

 indifferently. Many of them would probably do much 

 better given greater security, but they are too prone to 

 play for safety and to be content with the surer and smaller 

 returns. A considerable minority are frankly hopeless 

 and ought not to be allowed to occupy land. The farm 

 workers by organisation and legal enactment have secured 

 an improved standard of existence, but the standard is 

 not yet sufficiently attractive to withstand the competition 



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