MORE PRODUCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 176, 26 June 1937, Page 9

MORE PRODUCE.

BRITISH FARMING

INCREASE FOR DEFENCE NEEDS

Britain is prepared to spend up to £3.500,000 on increasing agricultural production, with a view to defence requirements and the establishment of the industry on a sounder economic foundation. The Minister of Agriculture (Mr \\ . S. Morrison) in the House of Commons outlined a scheme to co-st a minimum of £1 740,000 a year, and a maximum of nearly £3,500',000. , The proposals include a comprehensive campaign for the eradication of animal diseases, involving the centralisation of public veterinary services. It envisages a material extension of grants from the Exchequer for land drainage, assistance to farmers _ in the supply and use of lime and basic slag, and the stimulation of wheat-growing by an increase from 6,000.000 to 8.000,000 quai-ters of the limit of “anticipated supply.” ~ Mr Morrison explained that, in tn© opinion of the Government, to put agriculture on a wartime footing, with full regimentation of the farming com- , niunity, would be impracticable from ' / the point of view of cost. Nor, he ( added, was the situation such as to warrant the adoption of this course. “NOTHING ARTIFICIAL.”

The Government was equally satisfied that considerations of national defence did not justify in peace-time the stimulation of agriculture to a point where the country would be faced with a highly artificial situation, which would sooner or later have to be liquidated if the emergency did not arise. It had been decided that the best course in the national interest was to continue efforts to improve the general prosperity and efficiency of home agriculture. ' In particular was it desired to promote an increase in the fertility and productivity of the soil. The prosposals were so designed that,, should an emergency arise, the country would be in a .position to take advantage of the improved fertility of the -land. Should there be no emergency, agriculture would have been aided in a namier consistent with its normal development on lines economic in times of peace. Legislation to give effect to the proposals of the Government would be introduced as soon as possible. Replying to questions. Mr. Morrison said that proposals for the development of the milk and pig industries would follow. v.