BRITISH AGRICULTURE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21507, 2 June 1933, Page 8

BRITISH AGRICULTURE

In his broadcast speech to the farmers of the United States, Major Elliot, Minister of Agriculture, was at some pains to present British agriculture in true perspective. Indeed, the very fact that he spoke over the air on this subject to an American audience has a good deal of significance in itself. It is necessary that foreign countries should realise not only the present achievements of the primary industry of Great Britain, but also its potentialities. Even within the Empire there is room for much wider knowledge as to the capacity of the Motherland to produce more of her food supplies. Industrial Britain remains under the control of men of great talent, who have always been world traders. Economic recovery in Britain implies mass production for the world market. During recent years some changes have taken place in the direction of meeting wider competition. Quality, of course, remains the watchword of the British manufacturer, but nevertheless he is offering a wider range of goods under the stimulus of competition from countries which concentrate upon cheaper lines. But it is evident that the British Government is preparing for a day when the manufacturer will not enjoy the clear field of the past. One factor is that of wage standards. The average rate of pay is higher in England than it was during the heyday of industrial expansion before the war, and for that reason there will be restraints upon the export trade that were not previously a handicap. Furthermore, what is called technocracy is exerting an undefined but certainiy a large influence upon factory practice. It seems to be generally recognised that the machine is more and more reducing the amount of employment available for the man. Because this is in view, the British Government is developing an agrarian policy that aims at restoring more people to the land. The marketing measures which are being slowly worked out into practical forms are part and parcel of this policy, which has vision behind it. The Dominions already know enough of quantitative restrictions to understand that the "home man is to have first place in his own market." The future will see more encouragement to Home primary production. The aim of New Zealand therefore should be to create a special market by quality.