Transactions of RHASS Volume 1940 - Page 007
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| Year | 1940 |
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2 THE EFFECTS OF THE WAR ON AGRICULTURE. nations, there are wealthy classes and poor classes. The struggle has been regarded as one between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots.’ But the issues lie even deeper than that. Spiritual values have changed and new ideas and ideals have appeared which cannot easily be adjusted to the old social and economic order. Already three great nations— Russia, Germany, and Italy—have completely broken with the economy of the past. Our own nation, with its tradition of democracy and free speech and discussion, is probably the most stable social system in the world, because, in spite of all the faults of our social and economic system, new wealth is slowly filtering through and becoming distributed among all classes, as is evidenced by the great rise in the standard of living which has taken place since the beginning of the present century. But it is realised that after the war there must be a period of rapid reconstruction which will involve changes. It will be difficult to get the necessary changes carried through with the minimum of dislocation. The National Exchequer will be depleted; there may be unemployment to an extent which we have never experienced in the past ; there may be economic distress and social unrest. There will probably be general food shortage in Europe, and there may be shortage and high prices here. A food policy which would ensure that every person had suflicient for his needs, whether employed or unemployed, would go far to stabilise conditions and carry us through the difficult post-war period. Agriculture in this country is essentially food production. Our agricultural war policy, therefore, should do more than to provide merely a temporary increase of food to meet war needs. It should be part, and the most important part, of a long-range food policy which will carry us through the war and through the equally difficult period of post-war reconstruction. There are now several powerful agricultural organisations— e.g., the “Highland” Society, the National Farmers’ Union and the Chamber of Agriculture, which have wisely joined forces, the Farm Servants’ Union, the Colleges of Agriculture, and the Research Institutes. If these could be brought into closer contact and co-operate in planning agriculture for the future, planning not merely in the interest of agriculture itself, but planning for an agriculture which would form a stable basis for national reconstruction to post-war needs, they could make a valuable contribution to the forces making for stability and a smooth evolution along sound lines. A movement in that direction was made by the Scottish National Development Council in 1933, when a Committee representing all these bodies, with Lord Elgin as Chairman, examined Scottish agriculture in the light of all national needs. The fill). —;—v-" A THE EFFECTS OF THE \VAR ON AGRICULTURE. 3 findings and recommendations of that Committee would make a good starting-point for another inquiry in the light of the much more urgent needs of to-day. The “ Highland ” Society, with its great tradition and prestige, might well take a lead in this direction. Its disinterested work for promoting the welfare of all people engaged in agriculture, from the farm servant to the laird, and of agricultural education and science, gives it the background and authority which no other agri- cultural organisation has. Further, it would be in accordance with the original purposcs of the Society. It was established to deal not only with agriculture, but with everything affecting the welfare of the people on the land. It promoted rural industries and concerned itself with the standard of living and culture. It can, therefore, take a broader view than any other agricultural organisation. This long-range planning is urgently needed at the present time. Legislation affecting agriculture is too apt to be based on political exigencies to meet immediate difficulties. As a result we have had, in the last ten years, a heterogeneous collection of measures affecting agriculture, but no agricultural policy and no study of agriculture in relation to other national needs. All war measures should be considered in the light of their effect in the post-war period. They should be directed towards making agriculture permanently prosperous and provrding sufficient food for the whole population. A flourish- ing agriculture and a healthy, well-fed population are the only sound basis of national prosperity and stability for our social and economic system. We have the opportunity to plan for that now. It will be too late to begin planning in the middle of the dislocations and disturbances which are inevitable when the war finishes. IMMEDIATE EFFECTS OF THE WAR. At the time of writing, the Government has not announced any very defimte policy for agriculture except the ploughing up. of an additional two million acres and a promise that prices be sufficient to cover costs. There is as yet no indication what prices will be and no guidance as to what crops should be grown. Ofiicial pronouncements that agri- culture Will get a fair deal and will not be ‘let down’ after the war are not sufficient to give the industry the confidence needed to enable it to plan for the future. It is, therefore nnpossrble to predict, except in general terms from the ex3 perience of the last war, what effects the present war will haVe- Some of the immediate effects apparent : however, are already :4: we“... .+ «— . up .- .n-lh |
| Title | Transactions of RHASS Volume 1940 - Page 007 |
