§ 37. Sir ROBERT THOMASasked the Minister of Agriculture if his attention has been drawn to the present distress among those farmers who during the War bought their own farms with money borrowed at a high rate of interest, which has had in some cases an effect equivalent to trebling their rents; and whether he will consider the feasibility of giving relief to such cases by means of Government loans at a low rate of interest?
§ Sir H. BARNSTONProvision was made in Section 1 of the Agricultural Credits Act, 1923, for loans to farmers who bought their farms during the period from 1917 to 1921, when the Corn Production Act was in operation. The Government are now considering what facilities for long-term credit can be made available to farmers generally.
§ Mr. THURTLEWould it not be more just if the landowners who received an excessive price for their land were made to disgorge a certain amount of that money?
§ Sir H. BARNSTONIt was sold in the usual way.