4*6 THE AGRICULTURAL BLOC 



The qnestion has been asked : Why is it that 

 farmers continue in the industry so long as it 

 is relatively less profitable than other industrial 

 lines. The answer is, they don't. 



The changes in the personnel on the farm, 

 changes represented in movements of farm 

 tenants, the steady decline in the percentage 

 of workers engaged in agriculture compared to 

 total population, are all indications that the 

 business is not maintaining itself relative to the 

 nation's business as a whole. This decline in 

 workers in agriculture has not yet resulted in 

 a serious shortage of foodstuff to the nation 

 because of the possibility of expansion under 

 pressure. 



The Agricultural Commission found that 

 measured in terms of increase of population, 

 that is increase in production per inhabitant, 

 food production has barely kept pace with con- 

 sumption. "Wheat and grains have increased in 

 quantity about with the growth in popula- 

 tion, but the total of live stock has been lagging. 

 The decline in sheep is outstanding. The num- 

 ber of cattle other than milch cows was less than 

 during the preceding decade. On the whole 

 the consumption of meat is decreasing and we 

 are gradually changing from a meat-eating to 



