AGRICULTURAL PROTECTION IN FRANCE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1929, 15 November 1884, Page 4

AGRICULTURAL PROTECTION IN FRANCE.

The Paris correspondent of the 11 ."Standard" writes :— The Minister of Agriculture has published the text of the intended Bill for raising tho Protective Customs upon cattle imported by France from foreign countries. In the preamble some interesting information is to be found concerning French agriculture. "Asa consequence of the continued depression of agricultural interests the Go\ eminent," says the preamble, " deem it a duty to give a helping baud to the cultivators of the soil." How necessary higher Customs have become is argued fiom the extraordinary increase in importation. Until 1876 the importation of cattle had never exceeded 2,000,000 head, in the following year 2,525, 105, and last year the importation rose to upwards of 3,000 000 head. No nation except England has an equal importation. Cattle, it^is further uiged, are the very basis ot the French agricultural system, and too much encouragement cannot be given to agriculturists to devote themselves to bleeding, to the end that arable farming may be limited to the beat noil. The objection that increased customs will make meat dearer is th^n dealt with. • Cattle breeding under the new conditions will, it is predicted, become immensely developed in France, and thus the price of meat be kept down. The custom per head on bovine animals is to be raised from lof to 25f. In Germany, it ia pointed out, the figure is 28f, and Germany, hns much less need than France of protection, inasmuch as her cattle of this description number 15,000,000 head, while France has but 11,000,000. Moreo\er, the average \alue per head in Paris is 480f, while in Berlin it ia only 438f. Adopting similar principles, the Cuitoinß for bulls are to be raised from 8f to 12f ; for bullocks, from 5f to 8f ; and for calves, from If to 4f. Sheep, the average price of which in Paris is 40f, while in Berlin it is only 27f, are to be raised from 2f to 3f, lambs from 50c to If. Pigs are raised from 3f to Gf, and cattle meats from 4f 50c to 8f 50c the 100 kilograms. The preamble closes with an expression of the wish of the Government that the Bill mny pass unanimously, "in order that French agriculture may feel assured ©f ita destinies being carefully watched by the public powers, and of a determination that nothing shall be spared to second its efforts m the difficult struggle which it has so courageously sustained."