ENGLAND'S FOOD SUPPLY

Taranaki Daily News, 20 November 1930, Page 9

ENGLAND'S FOOD SUPPLY

“CART BEFORE THE HORSE’’ LABOUR PLANS SETTLEMENT OPPONENTS SCOFF BILL “MARKET NOT PROTECTED” ■- / By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 8.15 p.m. .. London, Nov. 19. The opinion that it was putting the cart, before the horse to place people on small holdings without first protecting the Home market was expressed by Conservative opponents to the Government’s Agricultural Land Utilisation Bill during the debate in the House of Commons last night. The Rt. Hon. G. R. Lane-Fox (Con.), one of the sporting members of the House, described the Bill as “by Unemployment out of Agricultural Depression.” He thought it would be even better described as “by Ignorant Extravagance out of Election Promises.”

Mr. David Lloyd George, Leader of the Liberals, said the Bill was one after his own heart. The country was becoming top heavy and was running intodangers by depending over-much on foreign food supplies. Naturally money would have to be spent but money spent on local food growing was equally a matter of security as was expenditure on army or navy. Money would be lost but the State had many ledgers. The Ministers ot Health and Labour as well as-, the-Treasury, desired increased food produetion. A An improvement in the ratio of the rural to the urban population—a restoration of tho countryside—• would be worth .an effort even if it could not show a profit on the money invested. The Bill was read a second time by 297 votes to 219.