HC Deb 26 June 1924 vol 175 cc617-8W
Mr. HARMSWORTH

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the financial inability of many farmers to pay labourers adequate wages, His Majesty's Government will, pending the recovery of the agricultural industry from its present depressed state, grant farmers such a subsidy per acre of productive tilled land as would permit a reasonable increase in wages to be paid?

Mr. SMITH

I have been asked to reply. I am not satisfied that farmers cannot pay their labourers adequate wages, but, in any case, the Government are not prepared to adopt the method suggested by the hon. Member, which I may remind him did not secure the support of the country at the General Election last year.

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