§ 52. Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the financial burden thrown upon the community for its protection, not against successful invasion but against starvation in the event of war, owing to four-fifths of the food of the people coming from abroad and of the fact that in the opinion of agricultural experts three-fifths of such foods, representing seven months' supply in every year, could be grown in this country if the public burdens upon agricultural land were less 1614 heavy and there was greater security felt by farmers as to the continuous possibility of growing wheat at a profit upon the steadily shrinking area under arable cultivation, he will consider the advisability in the highest national interests, in lieu of the further taxation of agricultural land, of applying half the value of a battle cruiser every year, either by way of bonus or of exemption from taxation, in the direct encouragement by the Government of wheat cultivation in the United Kingdom?
§ Mr. McKENNAI do not consider that the adoption of the course suggested by the hon. Member would be in the best national interests, nor can I accept all the assumptions on which the question is founded.
Sir GILBERT PARKERMay I ask if the right hon. Gentleman considers the request inconsistent with Liberal policy in view of the fact that the Government has already approved of subsidies for fruit-growing in Jamaica; subsidies for Imperial purposes—according to the Postmaster-General—for a railway in Canada; and subsidies for—