The Daily News. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1923. FARMING IN BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 December 1923, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1923. FARMING IN BRITAIN.

Inasmuch as the productive power of British farmers has an effect upon the prices of overseas imports to the Old Country, the situation of the industry there should have more than passing interest for Dominion producers. So serious has the position to which arable farming has come in Britain that it has aroused widespread notice and concern. It is stated that land there is going out of cultivation 'because the prices obtained for the produce are less than the cost of production, consequently as long as such a condition of affairs exists the question of a remedy must be of urgent importance. T'wo methods of overcoming the difficulty are either to raise prices' or reduce the cost of production by improved methods. There appears to be no possibility of lowering the scale of wages, as they are practically down to bedrock. As to reducing prices, it has to he remembered that, under the free trade system, world-wide importation has proceeded fiom both temperate and tropical climates, with the result that there is a continuous flow of wheat from many parts of the world, and when Russia once more adds large contributions to this flow the position will be accentuated. In regard to potatoes, the situation is seemingly worse, judging from the experience of 1922, when Dutch tubers were imported at such low prices that British growers were losing from fifteen to twenty pounds sterling on every acre of potato crop. The result of that loss was seen in the fact that last season there were 94,000 fewer acres of potatoes than in the previous year, so that the price to the consumer rose. It is interesting to note, in view of the recent rejection by British electors of a very moderate scheme of preference to the Empire, that British farmers appealed to the Government to admit the importation of potatoes only by license, so that the supplies could be controlled when prices were low, but the Government refused the request. It happens that potatoes are the only crop which can be grown in England and Scotland in sufficient quantity to supply the needs of the Home population; therefore it is claimed their growth should be encouraged by what practically amounts to protection. It is also contended that an import duty should be imposed on 'barley, and be the means of keeping the light soil land in cultivation. It has 'been mooted that reduced rents would assist the farmers to meet their difficulties, though that course does not seem feasible. In the case of freeholders, it might be possible to reducers interest on their purchase price, but the amount would be too limited to make an appreciable difference. So far as the leaseholders are concerned, the rent paid by them is regarded as being really little more than interest to the owner on the money laid out by him op improvements. As to railway rates for carriage of pfoduce, the position is much the same as in New Zealand, the rates being about fifty per cent, above those charged before the war, and are based on four ton loads, owing to the small trucks used, the continued use of which is inflicting a serious burden on agriculture. Apparently standardised production is impossible. For instance, take the bacon industry—one in which New Zealand is becoming a corupetitor. Frozen pork and preserved pork are both imported ’to Britain, and, when unpacked and thawed, are cured and sold in the markets

for “home cured.” Commenting on the situation, Sip,'Harry Hope said: “There are three partners in the agricultural industry—the landowner, the farmer and the workers. Their interests are identical. Their first need is a prosperous industry. Let us have a joint, or combined meeting of representatives of each body. Public opinion throughout the 'country, and also the Government, \would be more ready to adopt any particular proposal if they knew it had the combined support of all those interested in and connected with the land. Let us approach the whole question determined to maintain the welfare of an industry which history warns us is always the foundation stone of national prosperity and permanence. ’ ’ Without doubt concerted action is productive of better results than any other method. At the same time the producers of the Old Country and the public in general should remember that in the matter of preference they must give and take, and that is what they do not appear to realise.