Abstract
IN his address to the Farmers' Club on February 3, Sir John Orr further expounded his views on the necessity for a national food policy (see NATUBE of November 16, p. 771). The powers now given to marketing boards carry grave responsibilities; if fully used, 7 per cent of the population would control the remaining 93 per cent; therefore those exercising control must think not only of the wholesale price that will make farming remunerative,- but also of the retail price within the reach of consumers. The Market Supply Commission is considering food supplies from all three points of view?consumers', exporters' and producers'. The food question has been affected by new scientific discoveries, by our greatly increased productive capacity, and by the world economic crisis. Under-consumption by the poorer classes, with its sequelce, stunted growth, ill-health and poor physique, must be rectified by increases in their dietary of at least 12–25 per cent for dairy produce, vegetables, fruit and meat. Low consumption is due both to poverty and to ignorance. Ten per cent (4J millions) of our population spend on an average only 4s. a head a week on food, and the total income of these families is only 10s. a head a week. To meet the extra consumption required, the necessary foodstuffs must be made available to the poor at prices lower than the present retail prices. But the farmers are justly asking for higher prices for their produce. How can both of these opposing needs be satisfied ?
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Public Health and Agriculture. Nature 137, 265 (1936). https://doi.org/10.1038/137265a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/137265a0