BRITISH AGRICULTURE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 279, 24 October 1940, Page 7

BRITISH AGRICULTURE.

GREAT RESPONSE EVIDENT. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Oct. 22. Reviewing the food situation, the Minister of Agriculture (Mr R. S. Hudson) .'aid it had beea: rapidly improving. Total production of foodstuffs had materially increased. The result of. -she efforts of farmers had been not only an increase in the amount of foodstuffs grown, but also in the livi stock population. The second winter of the war, therefore, was entered upon with considerably increased reserves of meat on the hoof. British agriculture was well balanced to meet the demands which next year's campaign would make. As a result of conversations with the Minister, the gcvernois of the principal banks had appointed officers in everv county to discuss with county agricultural executive committees any difficulties of individual farmers who, in the opinion of the committee, ought to have had credit but had been unable to get it. Agricultural labour had been adequate during the year, thanks to recruitment from various sources, including the land army arid volunteers from school and universities.

The Minister of Food had agreed to stabilise the price of feeding stuffs till next year and the Minister of Supply had agreed to stabilise the price of fertilisers. Taking the whole of; agriculture and prices together, conditions now created gave . that stability and security of reasonable remuneration for which for years the farming community had been asking