49. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will give an assurance that adequate provision is being made by the Government to safeguard the farmers throughout the country against the indiscriminate use of power by the county war agricultural committees; and 965 whether in this connection he will institute some central body of appeal?
§ The Minister of Agriculture (Mr. R. S. Hudson)County war agricultural executive committees consist of persons with practical agricultural experience and knowledge of local conditions. I have no evidence to indicate that they are making an indiscriminate use of their powers which, I would remind my hon. Friend, have as their object an increase in home food production commensurate with our national need.
Mr. De la BèreIs my right hon. Friend aware that power often corrupts and that absolute power corrupts absolutely? I make no suggestion that these bodies are in any way corrupt, but is it not very desirable that there should be some right of appeal to a central body in cases where any hardship is involved? My right hon. Friend will appreciate this point, as he is a man of the world.