Improvement of grass-land management would free Britain from uncontrollable circumstances and store up fertility in the soil which would yield food at once if called upon.
Agreements with manufacturers. for no increase in the price of lime and reduction of the price of slag were announced.
The extension of the quantity of wheat to be given an assured price by the Whea: Act and the guarantee under subsidy if necessary, of fair ices for and barley, were justified as necessary to a balanced sgricuture, Provision of more mone; for drainage would enable the sections connecting fields with the erlecial system to be cleaned out.
Upon the importance of the plans to eradizcte senses of live-stock Mr.
Morrison laid stress. Efforts of the local authorities hitherto had had varying resuits. Good work' in one county hat been hampered or Gestroyed by failure in another, The tuberculosis bacillus observed no boundaries. A more comprehensive strategy was needed. They would establish a national veterinary service to combat animal disease in all its manifestation:
Mr. Tom Williams, the Socialist spokesman, pronounced the scheme both good and bad. He welcomed provision for land drainage, approved the effort to eradicate disease, and, although he found assistance for the purchase of lime and slag an indirect gift to landowners, supported it as going direct to the soil for the increase and maintenance of fertility.
To the encouragement of cereals he objected. In their production Britain could not compete with countries overseas, A guaranteed price for barley he considered an indirect subsidy to the brewers.
Mr, George Lambert complained that the Government were proceeding on wrong lines. He objected to all subsidies. Farmers should be assured of a stable reasonable price by an import levy.
Malcolm Barclay Harvey declared the proposals of much benefit te Scottish farmers, but Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith doubled their efficacy. Farmers could only buy the lime and if they had the money. At present they had millstones round their necks and no means of turning an overdraft into a credit balance.
He urged the Minister to inquire into the whole credit m.
The Socialist opposition to the cercal proposals was defeated by 206 to 121
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.