BRITISH FARMING

Hokitika Guardian, 23 March 1932, Page 5

BRITISH FARMING

WHEAT SUPPORT

COMMENT IN THE HOUSE.

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.)

LONDON, March 21

In the House of Commons, Major Lloyd George, supporting an amendment to limit the operation of the wheat quota for five years, said the subsidy payable was equal to the whole labour cost of the existing wheat area, plus the contemplated additional 400,000 acres expected to he devoted to wheat. We could buy all the additional wheat producible to nay the necessary additional thirteen thousand employees £IOO a year each, and still spend two millions less than the purposed subsidy would cost. Sir A. Gilmour said tile Government’s plan was :o give wheat, fanners ft certain three years’ run, when the circumstances would he reviewed.

Sir Samuel Chapman said that eighteen months ago, as an experiment, he planted wheat four iricjres apart, like potatoes. It produced 28 to 36 cars to each grain of seed, with 66 grains fell 1 bitch ear. There was no reason why they should hot produce 80 to 90 bushels to the acre.

The amendment was rejected by 301 to 47 votes.

Sir VI. Samuel, in answer to a question, suggesting a review 0 f the sentence on De Montalk (New Zealand poet), said that he could not consider the case, in view of the application already made for an appeal to the Lords.

The Prime Minister asked whether it was proposed that selected businessmen should accompany the Ministers to Ottawa for the Imperial Conference said the matter was under consideration.

In rt soeech during the weekend, the Labour Minister said that the cause of renewal of confidence now, generally felt, throughout Britain was the prospect of a balanced budget. Britain was almost alone among the nations in position, though at great sacrifice to pay her way. He believed that when orderly progress once again took place, out of economic chaos, the .nation might find themselves in position of being among the first to take advantage of the £r°neral world recovery. The employment figures also justified feelings of restrained optimism.