405 



APPENDIX No. 4. 



This was originally printed as an Appendix to the Report of a Com- 

 mittee of the London Chamber of Commerce on Food Supplies in 

 Time of War, dated 28th May, 1914. 



A BONUS ON HOME GROWN WHEAT. 



By A. H. H. MATTHEWS. 



IN considering any scheme for providing a secure food supply 

 for this country the following points must be borne in mind : 



(1) Which will be the most effective ? 



(2) Which will interfere least with the normal supply of 

 food to consumers in normal times ? 



(3) Which will give the greatest incidental benefits to the 

 community ? 



Approximately the quantity of wheat grown in the United 

 Kingdom is equal to from ten to twelve weeks' supply, after allow- 

 ing a deduction of 15 to 20 per cent, for grain unfit for milling or 

 required for seed. (Par. 36, Report of Royal Commission on Food 

 Supply.) 



In 1903 1,619,000 acres grew 6,102,000 quarters, and the price 

 was 27s. per quarter. In 1912 1,970,000 acres grew 7,175,000 

 quarters, and the price was 34s. 9d. per quarter. (Cd. 6597 and 

 Cd. 6906.) The acreage in 1913, however, dropped back to 

 1,790,000. The fluctuation of price, and the rise too uncertain, 

 to encourage an appreciable increase. 



A guarantee that growers would receive 40s. per quarter for 

 all sound wheat sold after 1st February would double the home 

 production. The Milborne Farmers' Club (Dorset) state that 

 with such a guarantee they would gladly undertake to double 

 their acreage under wheat on these terms. Their members occupy 

 about 70,000 acres. 



The amount of bonus to be paid must be decided at periodic 

 intervals, and must be the difference between the average market 

 price and 40s.; this bonus to be paid on all wheat threshed and 

 sold after 1st February in each year. If the quality was below 

 average the grower would even with the bonus obtain less 

 than 40s. per quarter ; he will, therefore, be encouraged to pro- 

 duce the highest quality. This is the chief reason why the bonus 

 should be per quarter, and not per acre. 



