Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will encourage additional contractors to do work on farms for small farmers who now rely on the W.A.E.C.s for much of their work, in view of the impossibility of these committees being able to provide sufficient machines and men during those seasons of the year when weather conditions are favourable for cultivation.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsI should welcome the entry of more contractors into agricultural business and especially to assist small farmers who cannot provide their own machinery and implements. Also I should like to see many more parish pools for the common use of machinery. Much of the work on small farms may, however, be unattractive to contractors and county war agricultural executive committees may have to continue for some time to be mainly responsible for meeting this need. I am not aware that committees axe generally unable to give adequate help to small farmers at peak periods, but, if desired, I will investigate the needs of any particular district.