A National Policy. 6i 



the State moved away from that position. At first the 

 legislation dealing with the industry merely laid down 

 rules regulating the relations of owners and tenants, a 

 form of keeping the ring inside which the conflicting 

 interests attempted to adjust themselves. Even such 

 social legislation as dealt with other classes of workers 

 was not applied to the agricultural workers at first. Then 

 the State began to interest itself in agricultural research 

 and demonstration. Considerable sums were spent in 

 this work, and in agricultural education. Stage by stage 

 the points at which the State directly influenced agriculture 

 increased, until now there is no other industry towards 

 which the State makes such a contribution both in money 

 and in teaching and research. It is the only industry 

 which has a Cabinet Minister and a Department solely 

 devoted to it, and it is not always realised, even by those 

 eneaeed in the industrv, to what an extent the State does 

 contribute towards agriculture. Besides research, tech- 

 nical education and training, provided at the public 

 expense, w^e have the assistance given by the Development 

 Commission to promote co-operation, to improve breeding, 

 and to assist in milk recording and in costing. Merely to 

 enumerate all the directions in which the public purse is 

 drawn upon to assist those engaged in agriculture to 

 pursue the industry more profitably would make a sur- 

 prisingly long list. The commercial value to the farmers 

 and landowners of the public assistance given is not 

 sufficiently recognised by those who benefit most. 



I do not think the community gets the return for its 

 outlay that it ought to get. The industry is making much 

 greater use now of the facilities provided, and the best 



