322 



Speech by Minister of Agriculture. [july, 



was that it did not matter where it came from so long as it 

 was cheap, even if it ruined the British farmer and the whole 

 of the agricultural industry and drove down the wages of the 

 agricultural labourer to starvation point. Thank goodness 

 the nation has seen the light as a result of the War, and whilst 

 they may not have learnt yet all there is to learn, and though 

 it may not have sunk in as deeply as it ought to have sunk in, 

 at any rate I think we are on the right road, as shown by 

 the reception of this Bill. Its principal object, of course, is 

 to encourage arable farming in the national interest, but at 

 the same time it recognises that you cannot encourage arable 

 farming in times of peace, and you cannot get increased 

 production at home, unless you make it worth the while of 

 the producer. 



Security for the Producer. — The policy of the Bill is to give 

 the producer — the agriculturist — a greater sense of security 

 which will encourage him to greater enterprise, and to do this 

 not by guaranteeing him profits at the expense of the taxpayer, 

 but by giving him a reasonable and fair chance of a profit, 

 and at the same time guaranteeing him against disastrous 

 loss if he engages in a form of farming which means more risks 

 for him and which has often in the past brought him nearly 

 to ruin. We are not seeking to secure for the farmer profits 

 in his business, but we are seeking to expose him to less risks. 

 The Bill in this respect gives what I venture to say has been 

 asked for, not merely by farmers but by nearly all agricultural 

 reformers who have investigated this great question for the 

 last generation. Though the Government measure may 

 not go as far as some would wish, at any rate we claim that it 

 goes much further than anything else which has been offered 

 by any Government, and I do most earnestly ask the farmers 

 of this country to respond, and not to respond only in a small 

 way, but with generosity and patriotism, to the call which 

 now comes to them. 



The Minimum Price of Wheat.— I spoke just now about the 

 misunderstandings of what the actual proposals of the Bill are 

 with regard to guaranteed prices. May I add that if after 

 what I am going to say it is still not clear to any farmers in 

 this room, will they ask me questions about it afterwards ? 

 I am quite prepared to answer any questions with regard to 

 the Bill to the best of my ability. I do not want anyone to 

 say afterwards that they do not understand what the position 

 is or what the Government is offering. In the first place 

 may I say, with regard to one criticism which has been 



