Farmers Prospering In West of England

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7179, 28 March 1930, Page 4

Farmers Prospering In West of England

OXrOED REPORT LONDON, March 21. In some parts of England farming is so prosperous that there is not a farm to be had except by offering the tebant a figure in excess of the market prices, according to investigations carried out by Oxford University, the Yesults of which were published recently. “Depression’ cannot be said to cVsist in the. west,” the report says,” and conversely ..returns fro.ni the eastern parts of the country show the hardships under which the fanning community is labouring.” The report states that some commodities, such as milk and market garden stuffs, are produced, owing to thcii highly perishable nature, under naturally .protected conditions. . Whore advantage is taken of this natural protection farmers find themselves on a substantial basis of prosperity. Other commodities, such as corn and meat, embody no such .protection or marketing advantages, but arc produced in direct competition with overseas farmers. This competition is being met successfully by those who conform to practical New World methods —taking a little more from the laud than nature gives, but without seeking to force production —and by those who occupy land which can be relied upon, under almost any condition, to givo full returns on capital and labour expended upon it. It is being met with h-ss success by those on certain types of land who are seeking to carry ou established systems of farming under economic conditions which to-day lca\c them no margin on their expenditure. Farmers who are able to operate their holdings without recourse to hired labour on any considerable scale are found to be meeting new conditions without difficulty.