966 



Editorial Notes. 



[JAN, 



{b) That either one-eighth part of the holding or 

 one-fourth part of the arable land (whichever 

 be the greater) is under cereal crop, or that so 

 much less of the holding is under cereal crop as 

 appears to be desirable in the public interest. 



The Minority Interim Report is almost as long as the 

 Majority Report, with which the Minority signatories find 

 themselves unable to agree. They express the opinion that 

 the present high cost of imported grain and the rates of 

 exchange now operating against this country act as a sub- 

 stantial protective duty on the produce of British agriculture, 

 and they point out that several competent judges consider 

 that the unexhausted fertility in grass land was a valuable 

 asset in the late time of war. They are not convinced that 

 measures found necessary during war should be continued in 

 time of peace. They do not find it possible to recommend 

 the guarantee of prices that may render remunerative such 

 wheat areas as are only able to produce 3J qr. or less to the 

 acre. Arguments are adduced against the policy of guarantees 

 and, finally, the Commissioners signing the Minority Report 

 make the following three recommendations : — 



(1) That farmers be informed that they shall be left 



free to cultivate their land in such manner as they 

 deem best, in accordance with the rules of good 

 husbandry. 



(2) That the Boards of Agriculture organise an efficient 



system of distribution of all available information 

 relating to the progress and prospects of agriculture, 

 with special reference to the course of world prices. 



(3) That, so long as prices of cereals are controlled by the 



Government, the farmers be paid at prices not less 

 than those at which the commodities controlled can 

 be imported. 



