The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the Wost Coast Times.) TUESDAY, JUNE 5th, 1923.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 June 1923, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the Wost Coast Times.) TUESDAY, JUNE sth, 1923.

ASSISTANCE FOR AGRICULTURE. The question of helping the man <>u the land as tho pimary producer who can do so much to help add to the wealth of the country, is being considered and dealt with continually. It is of intoiest, therefore, to note what tlie Motherland is doing in that respect. Appointed by the British Government at the end of December last •‘to inquire into the methods which have been adopted in other countries during the last fifty years to increase the prosperity of agriculture, a»d to secure the fullest possible use of tho land for the production of food and the employment of labour at a living wage, and to advise as to the methods by which those results can be achieved in this country,” tho Agricultural Tribunal of Investigation, consisting of Sir William J. Ashley, Professor \V. G, S. Adams, and Professor D. H. MacGregor have now issued, says a lamdon paper, an interim report in which various measures are proposed for the relief of the acute crisis that has developed in the agricultural industry. Reviewing the present position the Tribunal point out that tho serious losses incurred by the farmer in the past two years, the decline in tile arable area, the prospect of a still fui ther shrinkage, the consequent growing unemployment, aiul the rnp.d full in agricultural wages to a level which in some districts can barely alford subsistence, render the question of assistance one of the greatest urgency and whatever can he done to encourage productive agricultural employment should bo done at once. They, the:efore, deemed it advisable to submit forthwith such proposals as might lie of immediate service, although the inquiry itself is far from complete. Briefly, the recommendations in the report are as follows: Extension of credit facilities; reduction of railway rates on agricultural produce by not less than 25 per cent.; increased .State contribution in aid of local rates; no imp.oit duty on wheat or flour, but importers to be required to bring in 2d }or cent, of dials to 7d per cent, of flour—to ensure that the supply of offals is by preference given to home consumers a 10 per cent, export duty should be imposed on wheat offals; an import duty of 10s. a quarter on malting barlev, with a preference of one-third on Dominion produce; an import duty oi 20s. per cwt. on hops, with a similar preference; imports of potatoes to bo permitted only tinder licence; exemption from excise of the home production of beet sugar to he continued; fresh milk and cream to lie imported only under licence, and State aid for the provision of milk-collecting depots; imported produce to bo clearly marked so as to indicate the country of origin : six district wages boards to to established in. England and Wales to fix minimum rates and grant exemption permits; relief of rural unemployment; Scottish county agricultural committees should be re-established. The need for the development of co-operation among farmers in such matters as the purchase of supplies, tho sale of produce, the provision of credit, and for mutual insurance is especially- emphasised by the Tribunal, who also urge the extension of the facilities for agricultural education and research.