The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-03-17 00:00:00

SITU ;DA.I", MARCH 17, 18'38.

EDUCATE THE FIRMER.

In the matter of home politics the position
of the farmer may at this moment be said to.
be fairly well to the front, through the con-
sideration of the. Estimates and the near
preach i
of the day for bringing n the Budget
—not to speek of the comprehensive Local
Government scheme, the unfolding of which ,
has been anxiously awaited for some time—
have militated against the devotion of un-
divided public attention to agricultural
affairs The farmer, however, has by menus
,of his local, county, and central associations,
agitated So vigorously for legislative attention
that the great political parties have beerr
compelled to gitre heed to his demands, and
rt:cognise him as a potent faotor in the com-
munity, With interests which must be de-
fermi to and grievances which can no longer
be lightly neglected. Agriculture, groaning
under depression produced bya complication
of causes, is determined to have its case hoard
by the country ere it gives up in despair the
endeavour to make both ends meet. The
faemer's bitter cry has so far succeeded that
we are expecting ere long the appointment
o a responsible 'Minister of the Crown, with
• tietinely extensive Department at his back,
wheee exclusive attention will be given to
the control of the vtgrieultural affairs of the
nation. An, the great industry of stock
and crop rai,All4 has this week been the sub-
ject, ()tan ieeportant report of a Departmental
Co emission, and also of an animated debate
in the }louse of Lords. First glancing at
the letter, Earl De La Warr moved, in a
epeeeli full of gloomly foreboding, that., con-
si-J2ring the depressed condition of the
agricultural and othe:' industries in this
country, and the consequent distress among
th:t working-clessFes, it was incumbent on
the GJeeninv.titt to take into their serious
conaideri t ion .hat mea,mres could ie adopted
to avert th.; :Jaye consectnence.s which must
ot.:erwise ensue. His lordship was supported
by many who boldly averred that the only
• r,tine.ly for it2;ri,taltitral ani other do.
prei-ision was a return to protective tariffs,
teat is, the iinpo4, ion of import. duti •s on
nH eompetiug goods h•Tnight from foreign
lands, so tha the home raiser might be able
t.) advance his prices to such an extent to
the consumer as to make his labours as
earried on at present profitable. Though
the Protection party has a following in the
e eintry, it, is &linens that these propoials
‘Toeld be such a setting beck of the hands
of the eleek as to ho utterly itnpractible.
he prodlicer who can heat the
in tek•tt. in (ilia, it. and cost is the man who
will re, ei,-c eneontagement, and the man
W:1,1 i1.',41.1%!4 if. lt is no use trying to
le a lea •o an extra 50 per cent.
ii pete I eu gr eeed of patriotism far
i len e. euel .v not in iu way
o tett i..osu 'lintel or Danish
wit lii . jell ice •0. .t tifue might load
ii to t,
.3re'er in lione made article, but se
so. el ,•:ee? aed OXpe:ienee proved
that thv .r.mt over the sea at the
ittudi lower i w.s Tiite equal in every
way to snitcd enstoniers
and users ju.:.e. a 4 well, tiatriotism would give
plaee to p.te ci e..n.;iii,•rations, and we should
havo an ex, ravitien: to 44 the doctrine or
the 8!1-••,,v." oF the fittest Ni, ; the w 'rid's
D r.) I ce rtitNi in e i. i Cie up t.i tharket, as
rar is concerned ; And if farmers
here cannot _:outoete itth t lose who have to
ben, th..ir produce he adr;:.ds and thous:tails
o irtles it is time they turned t,ler indnet-ial
endeavours into some other channel. We
aee t.trfrernadrnittriig, however, that this is s.),
despite pessimist opinions to the contrary,
lee, ill a :ri at; trist give up the mem and
.aci nen' ehis-3afterthe protection" will o'the
w 137.)," the adoption of which, his own hard
tem eedeess should tell him, the country
reel,. net etaiel, and address hi inselfso] idly
yo Lli.. removal of those bars to profitable
pr which hare put his vocation under
t!iou:-1. There should be first of all a re-
atija,ittrient of local taxation, so that the
farnai-r ,hould not have to lay mere thao ii
eltlitalle proportion of the eest of keeping his
county and dicriet in pruper administrative
condition; and here there is room- for very
c•nisiderable, refut ur in the direction of afford-
ing relief to the tiller of the ground. Next,
lie should oontierie his campaign against.
unfair rates for the carriage of stuffs wanted
on the land ; and eeep tie an unbroken front
ill ele combination to compel railway direc-
o ee, to take i 1.3 pri):lOett to
.market for a
frei:..:ltte-e wherever t t scale of
ehars tells I:mitts:I!: in ta.v,ur of the carry-
iat; th.h.apani:le, anti u tau detrialent of the
tarmer Out the chief remedy for agrioul-.