FRENCH AGRICULTURE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 84, 3 January 1920, Page 12

FRENCH AGRICULTURE

THE LAND FOR THE PEASANTS AN 'IMPORTANT CONGRESS Tho Congress of French Agriculture of July, 1919, presided over by Emilo Loubet, former President of the French ltoimblic, assisted by MM. Melino, David, and Morel, former Ministers, and by M. do Vogue, chairman of the Agricultural Society of Franco, will remain an important dato in tho annals of agriculture (states a special correspondent of the "Christian Scicuce Monitor"). M. Victor Boret opened tho first meet, ingi with a clear, concise speech, in which ho said that the aim of the congress ivaa not to express vague hopes, but to 'indicate after each question discussed the .solution imposed by knowledge and experience. He then gave a, solemn undertaking that both Parliament and Government would transform tlio proposals put forward by tho congress into laws, as the Government intended to participate in this common action as a "collaborator," seeking inspiration from the teachings of tho congress, in full comprehension that the most imperative necessity of the hour was a close union between all the forces of administration and Labour. Important Resolutions Passed. Nine hundred and. twenty-five representatives of some 500 regional or local agricultural associations met at the full Bossion of tho congress, and after long and detailed debates, several important resolutions were passed which will havo a considerable repercussion throughout tho political life of France. The congress first studied the best methods for improving agricultural wagps, which it was urged could only be efficiently effected by an increase- in production. The encouragement of manual'labour for all work on tho land was next considered, and it. was decided that this could l)o done especially by tho 'perfecting of machinery, by the choice of a system of culture - appropriate to the object pursued, and lastly by. the creation of rural industries and more particularly of those transforming the produce of the soil.. Tlio rail-important question of rural hygiene was next studied, and especi-' ally that branch of hygiene dealing with food problems and tending toward'the suppression- of alcohol. Tho creation of clubs in all the communes was also voted, wliero labourers would find appropriate resources for their , physical and moral wclfaro and development. The congress also passed an important resolution favouring the creation of regional farms ,'of apprenticeship, in which a professional agricultural education would bo given to students, and it expressed tho wish th.it all teachersijhoiild strive to direct the attention of their pupils toward the land, whilst country teachers should be obliged to pass one year in an agricultural school. It was next decided that the creation of relief institutions and social relief works for labourers- were an urgent necessity, whilst it was also declared indispensable that a distinct placo for workers on the lnnd should be reserved in the International Labour Council. National Confederation to be Formed. ' But by far the most important resolution adopted] by tho congress was a nieastiro which may strongly counterbalance the exaggerations of industrial labour. It was decided that a national confederation of agricultural associations was to bo created immediately, to act as a link between all the great French ag'ricultural (societies. . And (the young president of the Co-operativo Society of St, Paul-de-Lcon clinched the matter by addressing the older members of the con--1 gress in stirring accents: "The large number of agriculturists' j who have fallen before the enemy in or--1 der to defend the soul of France," ho 1 said, "gives us who havo returned tho right, the duty, to say in their name: ' 'May- tho formula: "Tlio land of Franca for the French peasants" become a real- ' ity."'. The formation of the National Confederation of Agricultural Associations is ; an event of considerable importance, not 1 only on account of the particular inter- [ eats it represents, which vitally concern Franco, since agriculture is her chief source'of wealth, but especially becauso ; of all .the. living forces of tho nation, tho. agricultural forces have always been most resolutely attached to_ tho ideas of ) order, and moral discipline, without which «o country could livo and prosper.