ENGLISH AGRICULTURE AND MARKET PRICES

Dominion, Volume 39, Issue 53, 26 November 1945, Page 6

ENGLISH AGRICULTURE AND MARKET PRICES

The policy outlined in the House of Commons by the Minister of Agriculture appears to deal principally with what might be terme the fresh Hood group-milk, eggs, live stock, cereals, potatoes, and sue-ar beet With the possible exception of cereals—and it remains to be seen what they comprise-this is the field .of agricultural production in which the British farmer holds the stronges ; P™ There are of course, outside sources of supply. lat stock rise come from Ireland, and potatoes from the Channel Islands> afield, the overseas growers specializing in suppte’ . enci-ies markets, and if British agriculture generally s todevoteits enci & ics to the supplying of fresh foods, then it should not be difficult to nt £ producSve programme into the wider framework of the national requirements of tQ thhlg like the level of the anticipated demand, then the domestic P r^ u ction of butter, and probably all but special makes of cheese, will be con - naratively small. But if domestic prices art* to be guaranteed, then their relationship to prices for imported foodstuffs becomes a matter of no little importance to exporting countries such as this. lhe operations of the scheme will be followed with the greatest interest ioi, as oSed in the cabled summary, it has been designed to assure definite conditions for a period well ahead. Those who grow certain crops will know, 18 months before the harvest, what return will be obtainable and they will plan their own productive programme accordingly. That is something of exceptional value to primaiy producers The failure of the Government here to make provision ai enough ahead has hampered farming operations. On occasion the dairying season commenced in the Dominion! without the faime s knowing the basis of their returns, and wheatgrowers have frequently stated that decisions with regard to an approaching season were delayed so long that the men on the land were not able to make nece. s y preP There are some aspects of the programme about which moie detailed information must be awaited. .The Minister stated, for instance, that the Government proposed to ensure that agiicu tuia land was not onlv properly farmed, but also properly managed an equipped.” During the war years farm equipment is said to have been substantially improved, but only a few weeks ago a leading F«ghs icurnal stated that probably only the State could supply the extensive capital which agriculture needs.” Judging by the report it woni d seem that the intention is to make extensive use of the var time svstem, with compulsory directions as to the use to be made of faimin o land for the time being, but with a pledge that when the food crisis had passed the individual would be free to adopt the type of fanning best suited to the land owned. Interest will now centre largely on how the Government intends to assure supplies of food for the huge population at reasonable prices, and at the same time maintain a stable agriculture. These developments are of direct concern to die Dominion, as they represent a new stage in British agriculture, but as vet nothing has been said to indicate any radical changes pending in the particular markets in which New Zealand producers are specially interested.