STATE-AIDED AGRICULTURE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14236, 2 March 1917, Page 3

STATE-AIDED AGRICULTURE.

THE LORDS AND THE FOOD

EMERGENCY

A NATIONAL POLICY

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.!

(Received March g,'9.50a.m.) LONDON, March 1. The House of Lords discussed a motion m favor of State-aided agriculture with guaranteed minimum prices. Lord Crewe said that he could not support a suggestion to make England a permanently wheat-growing country on a large scale.

Lord Ribblesdale similarly doubted tin wisdom thereof.

Tlie Marquis of Lincolnshire eulogised the Government's drastic proposals to meet the present emergency. The old patriarchal policy, which some declared to be the country's glory, others considered a great handicap. "Agriculture had disappeared forever for weal or woe. i Lord Derby resented the insinuation that the War Office's only idea was to ■ret men regardless of industry. He added that he did not believe the submarine campaign would succeed, but it must not be under-estimated. He would try to meet the needs of agriculture while'getting men for the army. j The Earl of Crawford, on behalf pf the Government, said that the Government's agricultural policy as a national policy was designed to promote the security of the State, and as a necessary incident giving security to the agricultural industry. The present wa s not merely an emergency policy, but was intended a* the basis of a great agricultural policy , for the future.