HC Deb 10 July 1918 vol 108 cc312-3
42. Mr. RUPERT GWYNNE

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he is aware that the Worcestershire Agricultural Executive Committee have ordered Mr. James Print, the occupier of a small farm of about 80 acres at Arms-cote, Newbold-on-Stour, which he is quitting at Michaelmas next, to plough up the remaining 40 acres of grass on that farm on or before 1st August next; whether 40 acres is already arable land; whether it is the policy of his Department to order the whole acreage of a particular farm to be ploughed; and, in view of the fact that the land in question will require five horses to plough it and that there is no stable or cottage accommodation, he will give instructions for this order to be cancelled or held over until proper inquiries have been made by his Board?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Sir Richard Winfrey)

The Board have no information as to this case, but inquiry is being made, and the hon. Member will be informed of the result as soon as possible.

Mr. GWYNNE

Will the hon. Gentleman say whether it is the Board of Agriculture or the Food Department who are still pressing for the breaking up of grass lands?

43. The HON. MEMBER

further asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether it is with his knowledge and consent that the Worcestershire Executive Agricultural Committee are still ordering the breaking up of grass land, under threat of penalties, to be completed on or before 1st August next; and whether, in view of the shortage of labour to get in the harvest, he will give instructions that unreasonable orders of this kind should be withheld?

Sir R. WINFREY

My right hon. Friend is unwilling to interfere with the agricultural executive committee's discretion in the exercise of the powers entrusted to them. But if the hon. Member will supply particulars of any orders made by the committee which he regards as unreasonable, inquiry will at once be made into the circumstances. Generally speaking, however, the local committees are in a better position than the Board to decide on the merits of particular cases, and in view of the necessity for maintaining the production of corn, any occupier who is able to cultivate a larger area, either by his own resources or with such assistance as the agricultural executive can give, may be reasonably required to do so.

Mr. GWYNNE

Does the hon. Gentleman's Department think it more important to use labour at the present time in breaking up grass land rather than in securing the corn crop?

Mr. G. TERRELL

To whom are protests to be made when orders of this kind are issued, as to insufficiency of labour?

Sir R. WINFREY

Protests should be made to the Board of Agriculture, and they immediately make inquiries.

Mr. LEIF JONES

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the local war agricultural committees justify their pressure upon the farmers by the pressure put upon them by the Board of Agriculture? Is that policy of theirs continuing at the present time for the coming season?

Sir R. WINFREY

My experience of the local war agricultural committees, which are mostly composed of farmers, is that they are not unreasonable if any representations are made to them.