British Farms "Raped " By Blackcoated Bureaucrats

Chronicle (Levin), 29 January 1949, Page 5

British Farms "Raped " By Blackcoated Bureaucrats

•wrt'tin n ii A liONBON, Jan. 28. Vigorous criticism of the policy of the. Government in perinitting openckst ddal workings on arable^ iand and in taking good pasture country for the purpose of estahlishing satelllte tdwhs was bxpresse'd at the anhual meeti'ng bf thfe National Farmets ' Union. "In Cheshire foitr scbemes for satellite towns will deprive us of 1,000,000 gallo'ns bf milk and an equal production from arable croiu. What does the Government want — plans or fobd?^ said -Mr. J. Hough, a Cheshire delfegate. Another delbgatb, Mr. Pbtit Mills. of Berkshire, said British fanhs were being "raped" b'y hlackcoated •bureaucrats. "Berkshire will soon cease to be an agriculture! ttounty but will beconie a gardfen suburb built round an ornamental lake to supply Lond'oa With hathWater. This i's nbt just foolishness. It is culpahie homicide," said Mr. Petit Mills. A Weish dblegate (ML T. Mbr'ga'n) said that When he hfeard all th'e talk ahout the henefits bf fresh air ohtained hy town dwellers who were being moved into the country he wondered whether it was the policy of the Government that people should live more on air and lOSs on food. The meeting carried with acOlama* tion a motion condemning the Government requisition of farming land for housing schemes, and decided to send a deputatioh to the MiniStcy of Agriculture t'o ask that incursiOnS upon the countiy's food-growing areas should ce'ase. The meetihg "Was also britifcal oi Sir Stafford Cripps' suggestion when he spoke at the union 's ann'uaT dinher that importations of f eeding stuffs should he reduced. There was further angry criticism of proposals to introduce a Bill prohibiting fox hunting and other "blood sports." Mr. H. Woolley, vice-president of the iihion, Said that farmers were whoieheartedly agaiUst 4 'interferenee by- a lot of husyhodies with n.o understanding of the coun--tryside. We do°not try to interfere with the sport or pastinifes of othef section% of the comxniinity, ' ' said Mr.. Woolley, 4 4 and we are not going to accept sueh interferenee in our sports."