Evening star., 1938-07-31


farmers are demanding higher prices
more subsidies, cheaper ,Ddoes, cheaper
implements and numerous other meas
ures to increase production. The farm
policy is one OF the most pital confront
ing the government. Walter M. Harri-
son oives a clear picture of the inter-
esting situation in the tollo,Oing story.
Mr. Harrison, on ledDe OF absence
from the Oklahoma City Oklahoman
and Times, OF Which he is managing
editor, is attached temporarily to the
London staff OF the Associated Press)
BY WALTER M. HARRISON,
Correspondent of the Associated Press
ONDON-War fears are hidden be-
hind a growing demand that the
British government get behind an
expanded agricultural program.
Farmers are demanding higher prices,
more subsidies, import duties, cheaper
wages. cheaper implements, everything
to increase food production.
But in the face of constantly shrinking
area of productive acres the increase of
food imports, the addition of thousands
of acres Of land to rough grazing" the
government refuses to consider an emer-
gency farm policy and continues the de
velopment Of agriculture "on its own natu-
raj lines and to add what can be naturally
done to improve the farmers returns"
British Populace Concerned.
The British people have not forgotten
Germany's unrestricted U-boat campa.g
in 1861. They remember food rations
caused by the frightful loss OF merchant
shipping at sea. They look with increas-
ing concern on England's diminishing food
acres and farm population.
Bombings of British merchantmen In
Spanish waters testify vividly to the ef-
hciency Of airplanes and to the losses to
be anticipated in shipping from air attacks
in the war Of the future.
Just as certain as it is that England will
use her blockade strength to the limit
when she fights again, 1t is also certain
that England's enemies will try to cripple
her by destroying her food supply
Premier Neville Chamberlain says that
reserves of food for the first emergency Of
war are already laid by.
He insists that plans for an increased
amount Of food to be grown in wartime
are already worked out and would begin
to function as soon as hostiities began.
Opponents Give Answer.
His opponents say q wheat crop has to
be speeded up 1s months in advance and
that full year is required for any kind Of
an emergency plan to become effective.
The fact that 80 per cent of the people
Of the British Isles depend upon industry
and only 10 per cent live by agriculture is
the basis for the Chamberlain govern
ment's farm policy. 1t is the attitude Of
the city artisan against the farmer
Premier Chamberlain is impaled on 4
situation where everything he does to in
crease prices to the producer causes a wall
from the tremendous consuming ma jority
In a recent address at Kittering, Cham
berlain said: I'VE need not grow more
food"
The quotation caused such a hue and
cry that the Prime Minister had to soften
his statement and say there Is no neces-
sity to embark on artificial expansion of
our home agricultural production"
There is no possibility Of self-sufIiciency
in the matter of food supplies for a nation
situated as We are" he said
IT We were to grow all of the food we
need at home We should ruin those en-
pire and foreign countries who are de-
pendent on our markets.
Navy to Provide Food.
''The idea that we can be starved out in
We can depend on the royal navy and the
mercantile marine to keep open our trade
routes and to enable us to import our food
and raw materials indefinitely
But there are lot of people who are
not so sanguine
There is demand for survey of Brit
aims food-producing capacity
There is demand for a guaranteed sta
bility of prices.
There Is demand for an increased food
production Of not less than $500 900 900 a
year.
Since 1914, official figures show that s.
000, 900 acres Of arabic land have been lost,
and the fertility of the land has dimin-
ished.
Britain imports 50 per cent of the food
consumed by the cows that produce the ma
tion's winter milk.
The population Of the nation has in
creased by more than 1000 900 since 1914
Britain imports 10 per cent Of its wheat,
so per cent Of its meat and 80 per cent
of its butter.
There are hundreds of thousands less
workers on the land than in 1914
W. 8. Morrison, minister OF agriculture,
says there has been q net decrease of
l54,136 acres Of agricultural lands in the
last two years.
Farmers Picture Cut.
The National Farmers Union says the
net decline in cultivated lands and rough
grazings in England and Wales In the last
10 years is $4,000 acres. The decline in
cultivated land shows up moro seriously
when the increase q $4,000 acres IN