CANADA CONTROLS FARM ECONOMY

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 249, 18 July 1944, Page 4

CANADA CONTROLS FARM ECONOMY

Price To Primary Producers

A COMPARABLE BASIS

“We decided not to allow prices and wages to get away, so we froze them in September, 1941. Nothing can be sold for a higher price than that ruling between September 15 and October 20 of that year, but we found that for agricultural products far too low in comparison with other things. Consequently, while we hold the price to the consuming public in Canada, we raised the price for the farmer, to give him a comparable position with other sections in the economy of Canada.” These statements were made by -Mr. G. G. Ross, leader of the Canadian section of the overseas Parliamentary delegation visiting Wellington, when explaining, at . a civic reception yesterday, what had been done in his country to stabilize at a sound level the position of the primary producers. Through this method, said Mr, Ross, Canada was able to ship euormous quantities of foodstuffs to Great Britain, who was asked what price shp could pay. Canadian agricultural produce was sold to her at that figure, and the balance was paid to the producers to step up production. Though 400,000 men and 100,090 women had gone off the farms in Canada, production had been increased by 40 per cent, by old people -who had gone back to the farms and the young people who remained, working harder than ever before. “Since the war began industry in Canada has advanced 25 years,” said Mr. Ross. “We have become a shipbuilding nation, equal in stature to Britain herself in shipbuilding. We do not participate in the lend-lease of the United States, but we have been able to put out what is known as mutual aid to the extent of three billion dollars. We do not feel that it is any gift to anyone, but that it is a part of our contribution, because we are financially able to give munitions and other supplies greatly needed to all our allies."

Speaking of what he described as a few high-points of Canada’s war effort, Mr. Ross said that she bad been able to build a very large navy of 790 vessels, 250 of them fighting ships, with some 80,000 men manning them. It was Canada’s privilege to look after the policing from U-boats and to convoy across at least half of the Atlantic Ocean. She had a large air force, aud operated the British Empire training scheme, which had involved the construction of 200 air bases aud their buildings. Canada had been, able so far to train 208,000 airmen, and had 42 squadrons lighting in different parts of the world. At least 25 per cent, of the entire R.A.F. were Canadian pilots and groundsmen.