RURAL PROBLEMS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21631, 15 November 1935, Page 12

RURAL PROBLEMS

I PRODUCTION AND CREDIT VISIT OF NOTKH K< ONOMIST ; The eifec'.s of the policy of controlled production, particularly in 'the tea plantations of India, were ( briefly discussed yesterday by Proi lessor C. Fay. Kender in Economic ■ History in the University of Cant- ; bridge, on ins arrival in Christ- : church. Professor Fay is touring | parts of the tempi re. including India. ! Australia, and New Zealand, as chairman of the Horace Phmkeft ■ Foundation in London, ar.d he is ! studying the organism ion of agni culture on the co-operative side*. i The now policy of control was ' dominating agricultural conditions ! in India, said Professor Fay. Its of- ! feet was seen at the strongest in ■ the field of plantation agriculture, and particularly in the tea plantations. The policy had undoubtedly ; helped the producers, but perhaps at the expense of keeping alive the i inefficient growers. i Professor Fay visited and caroi fully studied the tea plantations i owned and operated by the English and Scottish Co-operative wholesale societies of Great Britain. These I societies—federations of working men consumers—in all handled one ! sixth of the tea trade of Great Britj ain, or about, 100,000.0001b of tea. ; Rural Credit Problems \ Rural credit; formed the main interest in Mysore, where Professor • Fay presided at the State co-opera-tive conference. Me found that in -Mysore state, just as in Now Zca- > land, tho recent depression had i forced the creation of a "entral ; mortgage corporation to ease the I burden of indebtedness. The in- ' debtedncss of the rural population had attained quite fantastic proportions in India owing largely to the ; social customs which compelled the iryots to spend perhaps three years' | income on the marriage of a daughter or on a funeral. : "The native states of India are I perhaps more enlightened in economic policy than any other part lof India," said Professor Fay. | "Moreover there is less bitterness I towards the English, and English I people are welcomed there and j treated hospitably." : Professor Fay will leave Christj church on Monday, going to Wellington by way of Blenheim, and ,| leaving New Zealand ultimately

from Auckland on December 0 He hopes to return to the tropics in January Jor a period of further study, particularly m Ceylon, Malaya, and Burma.