DR. ADDISON'S PLAN

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 35, 11 February 1931, Page 9

DR. ADDISON'S PLAN

State farming is being pushed in Parliament by Dr. Christopher Addison, Minister of Agriculture,' as a partial euro for England's unemployment and farm problems. Thus far his measure has had support indicating its final passage. The plan, in reality, is a eompleto reorganisation of England's agriculture. It has three main objects—large scale, mechanised farming, the reconditioning of land, and the settlement of unemployed, persons on it. ■ '

More than a million acres of arable land has gone* out of cultivation in England in the last few years, accord-1 ing to Dr. Addison—a serious trend for an island that in a month can produco only enough to feed itself for one 'week. ■ Briefly, the large farms will be demon- j stration tracts, where modern mechanical farm methods, such as are commonly practiced in America, will be taught, and large-scale farming encouraged. Not more than fifty of these are contemplated. Here farmers and even citybred workers can bo trained. These demonstration Jarrns are rto be purchased and hgld by'.tho Ministry of Agriculture, but controlled and managed by local authorities, universities, and agricultural colleges. The Ministry, too, will have power to purchase neglected land by compulsion, to decide whether land has been neglected, and to obtain by agreement land upon/which reclamation work is necessary. Thereafter the Ministry is to have power to let or sell the land.