1920.] Speech by the Minister of Agriculture. 827 



retrospective. On the other hand, we are proposing to give 

 landlords the right, if they choose, to withdraw notices which 

 they have already given, in cases where they find that they 

 would be unable to face the compensation which they would 

 have to pay if the tenant was forced out. 



The Position of the Bill. — I am not going into details any 

 further. They will be threshed out almost immediately in 

 Parliament. But I am aware of the fact that opponents of the- 

 Bill have been very busy during the Eecess in working up, 

 quite legitimately, opposition against it. It is therefore 

 necessary to say this. The Government is determined to pass 

 this Bill into law this year, if and so far as they have the 

 power to persuade Parliament to do it. (Cheers.) T can tell 

 you, on the authority of the Prime Minister himself, that he 

 regards this Bill as almost the most important item remaining 

 in our programme — (cheers) — that we are pledged to it up to 

 the hilt, and we are going to leave no stone unturned in order 

 to get it through. (Cheers.) In saying that I do not mean 

 we are not going to be reasonable and conciliatory in debate. 

 But at the same time we are determined, and whilst, of course, 

 we are dependent upon Parliament, I can only say for my 

 part, and for the Government of which I am a Member, that 

 we are going to do our utmost to carry out that undertaking. 



Profiteering Charges. — Mr. German asked me to say a word 

 about the charges which have been launched against farmers 

 with regard to what is commonly called profiteering. I do so 

 very gladly, because I feel strongly on the subject. Quite apart 

 from the fact that people who criticise, as a rule, have not the 

 remotest conception of the heart-breaking risks and trials of 

 farming in our climate, of the way in which the whole of a 

 man's energies and money may be practically lost in a few 

 days by some turn of the weather, it seems to me that this 

 charge of profiteering directed against farmers is peculiarly 

 unfair and ridiculous. After all, the farmer does not make 

 his own market; he does not fix his own prices; he has no 

 rings or combinations of his own, although he often has them 

 against him. What does he do? He sends his produce to 

 market, and he has to take the market price that is offered, very 

 often at auction. Sometimes the profit is high; sometimes it 

 is low; sometimes it is none at all; but if it is high, is it really 

 seriously contended that he should refuse it; is it seriously 

 contended that he should refuse a price which is offered to 

 him openly? Apart from the fact that he would be a fool if 



