THE HOME-GROWN FOOD SUPPLY 69 



of physique and health alone, to increase the numbers of 

 our rural population. 



" 176. The desirability of increasing our home production 

 of food, both for military and economic reasons, has also 

 been urged by many of our witnesses, and there are, .we 

 think, indications that, as a result of the War, the nation 

 may decide that national security demands a substantial 

 increase in the agricultural output of this country. 



" 177. These two objects — the increase of the home-grown 

 food supply and of the rural population — are closely inter- 

 related, and, though they do not directly form part of our 

 reference, they cannot in our opinion be left out of account 

 in considering how to promote the employment of ex-Service 

 men on the land. 



" 178. At the same time we recognise that the question of 

 increasing the production of home-grown food can only be 

 approached on the broad grounds of national policy, and 

 that it is unlikely that a change of policy could be brought 

 into effect in time to provide work for sailors and soldiers on 

 discharge. A radical change in an industry such as agricul- 

 ture must necessarily be slow in operation. Moreover, any 

 legislation required to effect a change in policy would pro- 

 bably be regarded as of a controversial character, and might, 

 therefore, not be possible during the War. On the other 

 hand, the adoption of a new agricultural policy, primarily 

 designed to limit this country's dependence on imported food 

 supplies, would lead to the employment in agriculture of a 

 large mmiber of additional men. This would eventually 

 open up a new and healthy career for ex-Service men pre- 

 viously employed in the towns, and, if the demobilisation of 

 the large body of men comprised in the New Armies were 

 spread over a number of years, the opportunities in this direc- 

 tion would be considerably extended. In these circumstances 

 it may be useful to indicate the means which have been 

 suggested with a view to increase the home production of 

 food, by witnesses who have appeared before us. 



" 179. All agricultural authorities are agreed that the only 

 means by which a substantial increase in the home produc- 

 tion of food can be obtained is by bringing under the plough 

 a large area of the land now devoted to pasture. Since 1870 

 more than 3 J million acres of arable land have been laid 

 down to grass, and, coincident with this, the number of male 

 farmers and farm workers has been reduced by nearly 300,000. 

 We think it right to point out, however, that during the 

 6 



