The Gisborne Times MONDAY, APRIL 22, 1935. A HARD ROW TO HOE.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12534, 22 April 1935, Page 4

The Gisborne Times MONDAY, APRIL 22, 1935. A HARD ROW TO HOE.

It seems that the. primary producers at Hpiiie are far from unanimous in respect of the efforts of the Government to assist them in making farming ohcb again profitable. If one may 'judge ffrorii files recently to hand they desire higher prices levels without State restrictions in relation to . domestic marketing. There lias, as is well-known, arisen there an •organisation designated the Agricultural Party aild it favors tariff protection and curtailment of supplies ,I'rom overseas as opposed to marketing sclieihes. Some weeks ago, tins body addressed a questionnaire to representative farmers in every county in England to ascertain their views. In Ovei-y county, nearly SO per cent .averred that they were not satisfied with the marketing schemes and that they we r e against an extension of the policy until, at any rate, those in existence had been made successful. There was almost unanimity on the poiiit that overseas supplies should be curtailed and subjected to a tariff “to allow of maximum home production.'’ The chief complaint against the marketing schemes it is reported, is that the Government has failed to support them by carrying out its pledge to restrict' competitive inqiorts as far as should 1.<9 found necessary in order that domestic producers might secure remunerative price-levels. Commenting on the ’•esult of the sending out of the questionnaire, Mr Stead, the secretary to the Agricultural Party, said;—“Jt is beeonrng increasingly plain that a •protected home market's more important than improved marketing. Y\ bile farmers would be ready to co-operate and submit to control which brought them solid advantages, they are very tired of a policy that imposes on them heavy Icsn because the home market is left open to world competition.” In this connection, it may be pointed out that- it it- very doubtful if the policy of endeavouring to force iip prices of foodstuffs by creating an artificial shortage of supplies is widely accepted outside the rural communities in the Homeland. The policy of Britain over a very lengthy period prior to the post-war depression was one of “Cheap Food.” In pre-war days any hint that the leaf might become dearer invariably led to disaster for the party then in power, '

The producers in the Dominions, it is true, are also far from satisfied with the present level or prices for foodstuffs at Home, but they realise that a lower market price for all their surplus produce is better than an unduly restricted market at fairer price levels. It is abundantly plain that the policy of the British Agricultural Party must be thwarted. If its members were to agree to support the admission into Britain of produce from the Dominions without payment of any duty and the placing of heavy restrictions cn foreign produce, it would afford much more satisfaction to their kith and kin overseas. The delegations from the Dominions which will attend the conferences at H-ome on this vital question have, clearly, a hard row to hoe, and the results of their efforts will be most anxiously awaited.