1920.] Speech by, the Minister of Agriculture. 819 



retain, is what is commonly called the control of the bad farmer. 

 (Hear, hear.) I have never found in any meeting of farmers 

 that that was an unpopular proposal. No one likes the black 

 sheep in his own flock. I know I shall have the support of the 

 entire farming community behind me in that. May I say this in 

 the presence of the two principal officers of the Farmers' Union : 

 a great ^temptation in one sense was put in their way when the 

 Agriculture Bill was going through Committee in the House of 

 Commons, and the control of cultivation was so whittled down 

 as to be practically worthless. They stood to their guns, how- 

 ever, and said : We recognise it is fair that we should submit 

 to control if we get the benefits and guarantees provided by the 

 Bill. I think that was a fine example of straight dealing and 

 courageous leading. With regard, however, to this question of 

 control of bad farming, let me assure you that I have no desire 

 whatever that it should be exercised from Whitehall by this 

 " army of inspectors " who come down from London in express 

 trains and tell the farmers of Leicestershire how they ought to 

 run their business ! That is not what is wanted, and certainly it 

 is not going to be done. As you know, the County Agricultural 

 Committees have now been reconstituted. They consist of repre- 

 sentative local men, and in most cases every agricultural interest 

 is admirably represented upon them. The bad farmer will be 

 'judged, not by an inspector from Whitehall, but by his neigh- 

 bours and by practical men in his own district. Surely there 

 can be nothing fairer than that. 



Farming not a Depressed Industry. — Then may I say a word 

 about what I call the second misconception as to the duties of 

 the Ministry, one which is perhaps more widespread, and cer- 

 tainly equally mischievous. In my view British agriculture to- 

 day is neither a helpless babe wanting a nurse, nor is it a spoilt 

 child waiting to be bribed. I am convinced that farmers do not 

 need spoon-feeding in the conduct of their business, and, there- 

 fore, the Ministry is not to be judged by the amount that it does 

 for them in those respects, or by the number of concessions, so 

 called, which it manages to wring from the Government on their 

 behalf. Farming to-day is not a depressed industry, and it is 

 very unwise on the part of farmers or anyone else to try and 

 create the impression that it is. After all, we want to attract 

 to the industry the very best men in the country ; we want to 

 attract more capital, more brains, more energy; and if for no 

 other reason, because the nation needs increased home produc- 

 tion. (Hear, hear.) 



