We like the proposal for a guaranteed price of wheat,
but there are obvious difficulties upon which Mr. Baldwin did not touch. We cannot see any way of making the guaranteed price " firm for a period of years " except by agreement with the other Parties. Neither of the other Parties would dream of being bound by a declaration made on the sole authority of a Unionist Government. Mr. Baldwin imagines help for agriculture coming from the Safeguarding duties, but those duties themselves would get little mercy from Labour or the Liberals. The reason seems to be all the greater for an All-Party agricultural policy. Then, indeed, it would be possible to plan a scheme for years ahead. As for the right guaranteed price for milling wheat, the Farmers' Union has proposed 55s. a quarter. The present price is about 35s. Dr. Addison, several months ago, stated that the cost of guaranteeing a price of 55s. a quarter would have been £2,116,000 in 1927 and £2,481,000 in 1928. Now the cost would be a little more ; but it would be a very low price to pay for a revival in agriculture which would create genuine new employment. Far more than that sum could only too easily be spent upon some relief work " which would do nothing for the permanent reduction of unemployment. * *
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