British Farmers Given Warning

Chronicle (Levin), 20 April 1949, Page 5

British Farmers Given Warning

Received Tuesday, 7 p.m. LOXDOX, April 19. Pointing out that British farmers are now being paid nearly twice as much for their beef and mutton as Britain is paj-ing to overseas producers, the Farmers' Weekly says editoriallv: "We have been lulled by our involved war-time an'd post-war eonditions into something of fool's paradise. As a matter of politieai foresight we would be unwise to bank on any Government being prepared indefinitely to pay twice as much for home produce as for imported. As a long term prophecv we regard it as inevitable that sooner or later- politieai pressure will attempt to bring prices of home prodnced food more in line with those paid^ for food from overseas. This is one vital reason — even if therei are no others — why the British farming industrv should 'overhaul its methods with the view of eutting down costs and increasing efiicient production. Alanv of us tind substantial ehang'es necessary if we are to continue in business. While we are working these out, it would be well to iook a good deal further ahead and see 11 there may be ways of improving our own teehniques so as to prepare for the time when this country can again buybeef and mutton freely on the overseas markets. "