CHAPTER XVII 



General Summary of Conclusions and Recom- 

 mendations. 



A. — Conclusions. 



The conclusions arrived at in this Report may be thus 



summed up : — 



(i). The dechne of agriculture from the prosperity of 

 twenty-five years ago, although led up to, and from 

 time to time aggravated, by unfavourable seasons, 

 has been mainly due to the fall in prices of agri- 

 cultural produce. 

 (2). The fall in prices has been largely, if not exclu- 

 sively, brought about by the rapid development 

 of agricultural production in new districts abroad, 

 by the quickening and cheapening of means of 

 transport, and by inventions enabling producers 

 in the Colonies and abroad to place foreign and 

 colonial meat and dairy produce on the home 

 markets in saleable condition, 

 (3). Besides the fall in prices, the chief cause of 

 agricultural depression has been the excessive 

 rent put upon agricultural land. 

 (4). Contributory causes have been excessive and pre- 

 ferential railway rates and charges, the organised 

 and fraudulent sale of adulterated articles of 

 food, and, in a minor degree, the local and Im- 

 perial burdens on land. 

 (5). It is impracticable, and would be prejudicial to 

 the general commercial interests of this country, 

 and it would be immediately prejudicial to 

 stock and dairy farmers, and would ultimately, 



