§ 54. Sir Stanley Reedasked the Minister of Agriculture whether it is the policy of his Department that agricultural executive committees shall execute cultivation and threshing work in competition with, or supplementary to, regular contractors; and whether early steps will be taken to reduce the equipment and establishment of agricultural executive committees, with a view to the complete cessation of these activities.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsCultivation and threshing work undertaken by agricultural executive committees is intended only to supplement the work of farmers themselves and of agricultural contractors. I shall be only too glad to see committees reduce their activities in this field as and when they can: but the extent and the timing in any district must depend largely on whether contractors are able to give farmers, and especially the smaller farmers, the help they still need.
§ Sir S. ReedWill the Minister kindly keep this matter constantly under review, because there is an impression abroad that the cost of these services are fantastic, owing to the heavy overheads, and: that private contractors are now, in most cases, quite ready to undertake the whole, of the work?
§ Mr. WilliamsOn the contrary, Sir. Unfortunately we find the tendency is for the number of contractors to be reduced.