Transactions of RHASS Volume 1940 - Page 203
Image details
| Year | 1940 |
|---|---|
| Transcription |
|
| OCR Text |
394 PROCEEDINGS AT BOARD MEETINGS. by the National Farmers’ Union and Chamber of Agriculture. They, however, desire to make special reference to the following matters :— MINISTRY or FOOD. It is desired to support the view expressed by the Union and Chamber that Producers in Scotland should be represented on the Ministry of Food by the appointment of a representative, or representatives, thoroughly versed in Practical Agriculture in Scotland, who would give guidance in the formulation and admin. istration of Schemes of Control. LIVE STOCK. The Committee are strongly of opinion that a Long-Term Scheme of Control should be put into operation forthwith. _ _ ‘ (a) Cattle-The Schedule of Prices recently issued by the Minister of Food is considered to be unworkable, as no one can grade Cattle to Within 1 per cent of the live-weight. The prices proposed are unsatisfactory, in View of. present costs. The Committee recommend that there be two standard grades, in accordance with the scheme in operation before the war, and that a super-grade be introduced for Home-Bred Fat Cattle killing out at a high percentage of the live-weight, of which there are very large numbers in Scotland. The grades, therefore, would be as follows :— Grade. Killing Out Percentage. Pme Perofilt‘fe'welght Su er Grade. 60 per cent or over. 60s. P A. 57 per cent or over. 57s. 6d. B. 54 per cent or over. 549. There should be a corresponding decrease for lower-grade Cattle. In all cases, the seller should have the option of having his cattle slaughtered and graded on a dead-weight basis. O ' . . ' The seller should be paid on the full ascertained live-weight at the certifying centre without any deduction. The prices fixed should be renewed from time to time, having regard to the rising costs of production. . . (b) Sheep—In view of present costs, the Committee are of opinion that the prices suggested by the Union and Chamber are not now adequate. The scale of prices announced by the Ministry of Food is also considered unsatisfactory. (1) Fat Sheep—The Committee consider that the minimum fixed price for Fat Sheep, all the year round, should be 1s..per 1b., dressed carcase weight, this price being subject to revision from time to time. . . (2) Lamba.—The price should be as follows : an addition of 2:}d. per lb. above the prescribed Sheep price for any month, for lambs sold iip to 3lst December in the year of birth. In the calendar year f Ollowmg birth, until the date of shearing, the addition should be 3d. per lb. ’ . _ . (3) Sucking Lambs.—The proposal of the Ministry of Food in regard to sucking lambs does not meet Scottish conditions. The date should be extended to 30th June, and the price should be not less than 6d. per lb. above the standard Sheep rice. P (4) Ewes.—Ewes of 70 lb., or under, should be 3d. per lb. under the standard Sheep price, rising or falling according to the rise or fall of the standard price. Ewes over 70 lb. to be 5d. below the standard Sheep price, and to rise and fall in the same manner. . _ (5) Rama—Young Tup Lambs, up to date of shearing, to be the same price as the standard Sheep price. i . . Buyers of Store Sheep require to have some assurance With re ard to price under the Long~Term Policy. otherwise there is little prospect of Bree ers obtaining a remunerative price for lambs next season. WOOL. The Committee a so with the Union and Chamber that the temporary measures of Wool control hag; virtually brought trading in this commodity to a. standstill, and the inability of Farmers to dispose of their product has caused considerable financial embarrassment. They urge that there should be anlearly deciSion in this matter, so that Farmers may be enabled to dispose of their Wool stocks at 10 rices. . 60%;:1Cogimittee would point out that the whole Sheep-Breeding Industry, particularly in the case of Hill Sheep, is in a precarious condition, and unless PROCEEDINGS AT BOARD MEETINGS. 395 Breeders are enabled immediately to sell this year’s Clip of Wool at satisfactory prices, the position will become untenable. This state of affairs is intensified by the fact that this year’s crop of Lambs and Ewes has already been disposed of at unremunerative prices, due to tho unsettled condition of National affairs, the Government’s Plough Policy, and the extremely low prices for Mutton which the Government indicated might be fixed, particularly for the light class of Ewes. In considering prices, the Committee would point out that the prices obtaining before control, for the 1938 and 1939 Clips, were altogether uneconomic, and, in fixing prices, the figures for these Clips should not form a basis. The Committee are strongly of opinion that the prices fixed for Scottish Wools at present unsold should be not less than the following :— Blackface . . . . . . . . ls. per lb. Cheviot—Ewe and Hogg (washed) . . . . ls. 6&d. per lb. Do. do. (unwashed) . . . ls. 4d. per lb. Half-Bred—Ewe and Hogg (washed) . . . ls. (Sid. per lb. DO. do. (unwashed) . . . ls. 4d. per lb. Down Breeds and Down Crosses (washed) . . ls. 61}d. per lb. Do. do. (unwashed) . . ls. 4d. per lb. Border Leicesters and Leicester-Blackface Crosses . ls. 2d. per lb. The above prices should be net. POTA'lOES. The Committee desire to urge that it is essential the Government take over the 1939 crop at the present maximum prices, and that the Seed Potato prices, which it is understood are to be issued, should be minimum prices per ton. These prices should be disclosed forthwith. If this is not done immediately, it is believed iho delay will have a detrimental efi‘ect on the increased production desired by the Government in 1940. In urging the fixing of minimum prices, the Committee have in mind past experience of this and other commodities having been bought from the Producers at much below maximum prices, and retailed at full prices to the public. It is further urged that the Government intimate now that the 1940 crop will be taken over at prices in keeping with the costs of production. The Committee would also urge that Producers be given equal representation with Mei-chants on the Price Fixing Committee of the Ministry of Food. The representatives of Producch on that Committee should in no case be Merchant- Growers. PLOUOH POLICY. The Committee support the representation of the Union and Chamber that Producers cannot participate whole-heartedl in the Government’s plan for bringing 260,000 more acres of land in Scotlan into a state of fertility unless and until definite assurance is given that the Government will undertake to purchase the produce of the extra cultivation, and that the prices paid will be such as to make product-ion on the secondary and poorer soils an economic proposition. An immediate statement on this subject is urgently called for. RURAL HOUSING. The Committee also support the representation of the Union and Chamber that special measures be taken by the Government to enable Contractors to complete work on Farm Cottages which were in course of erection at the outbreak of hostilities, the work having been held up on account of the inability to secure the necessary materials. This would apply also to the erection of houses for which Schedules have been assed. This is important, in view of the need for improve- ment in Rural Housmg, and the difficulty often experienced in finding suitable accommodation for workers. FARM LABOUR. In view of the considerably increased Area under cultivation in 1940, the Com- mittee are satisfied that the present scarcity of skilled farm labour will be greatly intensified, and they are strongly of opinion that no Farm—workers at present on the land should be taken for Military Service. 8 EOLiN'rON CRESCENT, EDINBURGH, 18th November 1939. VOL. LU. |
| Title | Transactions of RHASS Volume 1940 - Page 203 |
