320 Speech by Minister of Agriculture. [july, 



SPEECH BY THE MINISTER OF 

 AGRICULTURE AT THE ROTHAMSTED 

 EXPERIMENTAL STATION. 



The following is the text of a speech by The Lord Lee of 

 Fareham, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, at the 

 Rothamsted Experimental Station, on Thursday, 17th June, 

 1920 : — 



LORD LEE OF FAREHAM : Mr. Chairman, my Lord, Ladies and 

 Gentlemen, may I in the first place say how glad I am to see 

 such a remarkable rally of farmers. I could hardly believe 

 it when I was told just now that you all come from Hertford- 

 shire. It seems to me that farmers are really getting interested 

 in agriculture, and what is perhaps more important, the country 

 and the Government are getting very interested in farmers ! 

 (Hear, hear.) No doubt you will say it is about time. 



The Agrriculture Biii. — I hope that Dr. Russell and his staff 

 will forgive me if on this occasion, when perhaps I might be 

 expected to speak on the subject of agricultural research, 

 I think it wiser to leave that for some future time and to deal 

 to-day mainly with the subject which I am sure must be upper- 

 most in your minds ; that is, the agricultural policy of the 

 Government as indicated in the Bill which is now before 

 Parliament. I think it is necessary that I should speak on 

 that subject because there appear to be so many perfectly 

 honest, but at the same time exasperating, misunderstandings 

 with regard not merely to the aims and objects of the Bill, but 

 with regard to its.actual provisions. I have noticed with regard 

 to agriculture, as with other subjects, that the most severe 

 critics are apt to make a point of not reading a measure or a 

 speech before they proceed to criticise it. It is perfectly 

 clear that a great many of the criticisms which have been 

 directed against this Bill come from people who really have not 

 taken the trouble to understand what the Bill is and what it 

 proposes to do. That is very notably the case with regard 

 to guaranteed minimum prices. Let me say in passing that 

 personally I am very well satisfied with the reception which 

 the Bill has had in the country as a whole and amongst farmers. 

 I am aware there has been no what I might call extravagant 

 enthusiasm for it amongst farmers, but I think that is a clear 

 indication that it is not handing out special favours to one 

 section of the industry or another, and that it is a fair attempt 



