BRITAIN'S REMEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 20 November 1930, Page 6

BRITAIN'S REMEDY

CLOSER SETTLEMENT BILL. (United /preaa Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) > • LONDON, Nov. 19. In the House of Commons during a debate on the Government’s Agricultural Land Utilisation Bill the Conservative opponents of the measure expressed the opinion that it was putting the cart before the horse to get people on to the small land holdings without first protecting the Home market for them. Mr 6. R. Lane Fox (Conservative), who is one of the sporting members of the House, described the Bill as “By Unemployment, out of Agricultural Depression.” He thought that it would be better described ajs “By Ignorant Extravagance, out of Election Promises.”

• Mr Lloyd George said, that the Bill was one after his own heart. The country was getting “top heavy” and was. running into danger by depending overmuch on foreign food supplies. Naturally, money would have to be spent on this scheme, but the money spent on local food-growing was equally a matter of. security as wan the matter of expenditure on the army or on the navy. Money would be lost, 'but the State had many including those of ledgers. The Ministers of , Health, and. of Labour, as well as that-, of the .Treasury. /, , .•. —, "'Mr Lloyd "George saw that ail increased food production in the country, , al,so. aji- improvement in. the ratio of 'Rura] to the Urban population .find also the restoration of the country side, would be worth, the effort, even “if it could, not show a profit on the money invested. The Bill was read the second time by’ votes 0f'297 to 216.