as souesen sade 3 : s oi 15 \ Imp AD le LiSRARY f » fe OF THE UNIVERSITY OF LINCIS REPORT OF THE SCOTTISH CONFERENCE oy" AGRICULTURAL POLICY EDINBURGH: Mop visti De BY. HIS MATESTY’S STATIONERY OFFICE. To be purchased through any Bookseller or directly from H.M. STATIONERY OFFICE at the following addresses:—120 GEORGE STREET, EDINBURGH; ADASTRAL HousEz, KINGSwAy, LONDON, W.C.2, and 28 ABINGDON STREET, Lonpon, S.W.1; York St., MANCHESTER or | ST. ANDREW’S CRESCENT, CARDIFF. 1925, Price 1s. 6d. Net. STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURE. Travelling (Approximate), Shorthand Reporting, etc. £220 0 O Stationery Office (Duplicating, Printing Report, etc.) 29 15 0 Total. ...... +. {2458 Tome a ‘ oR “<=: te ae 2328 ESh. On aco tS 24 bod aks. @30:-94l — Seos | TABLE OF CONTENTS. List of Members Terms of Reference Introductory Land Drainage Lime . ae Buildings and Equipment Rural Housing os Education, Research, etc. Soil Surveys and Analyses .... Agricultural Economics Demonstration Areas Improvement of Pastures .... Education aeRO) Ce 1918 Electrical Supply ... Ae Telephones oA Wireless Transport—Road, Rail and Sea Importation of Agricultural Produce Improvement of Live Stock Dairying .. Milk Recording Eradication of Bovine nc roniosicn Heather-Burning, Game and Vermin Bracken ; Organisation Marketing Co-operation Land Tenure zeit oe Seed arms, or Out: Barms:” ECCCOIGS «.... Small Holdings Taxation Rating Allotments Summer Time os Table of Appendices Scottish Conference on Agricultural” Policy: His Majesty’s Secretary for Scotland convened in March, 1925, © a Conference of persons representative of various agricultural interests “‘ to consider what measures, if any, are necessary either “by the State or by the agricultural industry itself or by both in “concert (1) to maintain and (2) to increase the area of arable “land in Scotland, and by what further measures the economic “maximum production of food from all the agricultural land of “the country can be stimulated.” The interests represented and the members of the Conference were as follows:— Land Owners:— His Grace the Duke of Buccleuch, K.T. Sir Kenneth Mackenzie, Bart. Sir John Stirling Maxwell, Bart. Sir David Wilson, Bart, D.Sc. Mr. G. Erskine Jackson, O.B.E., M.C. Major Keith. Tenant Farmers:— Mr. Harry Armour. Mr. James Elder. Mr. A. Forbes. Mr. John McCaig. Mr. A. W. Montgomerie. Mr. James Paton. Small Holders:— Mr. James Ellis. Mr. John Miller. Farm Workers:— MrgpA, bly th: Mr. T. Dougan. Mr. George McCombie. Mri eecout: Mri otecl: Mr. R. Wann. Agricultural Co-operation:— Major Mark Sprot. With the consent of the Board of Agriculture for Scotland and with the approval of the Secretary for Scotland, Mr. J. M. Caie, M.A., B.L., B.Sc. (Agr.), was appointed Secretary to the Conference REPORT OF THE Scottish Conference on Agricultural Policy TO ia dH tT HONOURABLE TIBUE-COL: pil OLN GLMOU RR Barto.D.54), MP, His Mayesty’s Secretary for Scotland. SIR, ; The Conference was convened “ to consider what measures, “if any, are necessary either by the State, or by the Agricultural “ Industry itself, or by both in concert, (1) to maintain and (2) “to increase the area of arable land in Scotland, and by what “further measures the economic maximum production of food “ from all the agricultural land of the country can be stimulated.” The Conference met on eight days in Edinburgh, the first meeting being held on 31st March, 1925. At that meeting, one of our number, Mr. James Elder, Athelstaneford Mains, Drem, was unanimously elected Chairman. The constitution of the Conference, representing as it did all the chief interests directly concerned in agriculture, rendered it unnecessary to take oral evidence from witnesses, but we had the advantage of certain information submitted in wsiting, some of which was offered voluntarily and some obtained in response to our request. We had the further great advantage of having at our disposal the large amount of valuable material contained in the reports, pub- lished within the last few years, of Departmental Committees or other official bodies which investigated various subjects bearing on agriculture. Having these reports before us, and in particular, the final report of the Agricultural Tribunal of Investigation,* we have thought it unnecessary that we also should make a fresh statistical or economic survey of the present state of the industry in this country, or an analysis of the causes that have placed it in such a condition as to render desirable the summoning of a conference to suggest remedial measures. The fact of outstanding signi- ficance is that the area of arable land in Scotland has decreased from 3,453,000 acres, which was the war-time maximum in 1918, to 3,273,000 acres in 1924, while the area of permanent grass has grown in the same period from 1,308,000 acres to 1,442,000 acres. Signs are not wanting that, unless something can be done to check it, this retrograde movement will continue, and it seems reasonable to believe, though precise evidence on the point is _naturally more difficult to obtain, that this process may, under existing conditions, be accompanied by a diminished intensity of cultivation of the remaining ‘arable land. * 1924, Cmd. 2145. 6 We have accordingly taken as our starting point the position as stated in the previous paragraph, and have assumed ;that what our terms of reference chiefly require of us is to propose for your consideration various practical measures, capable of early adoption, which would, we believe, lead to greater agricultural prosperity, with all the important consequences that would follow therefrom. We wish, however, at this point to make quite clear one guiding principle that we have kept before us throughout our deliberations and in making the recommendations that follow. This fundamental principle is that agriculture, as compared with other industries, is of peculiar importance in the social and economic life of the nation, and that its welfare should be one of the especial cares of the State. The matter is admirably discussed in Part I. of the Final Report of the Agricultural Tribunal and we cannot state the case more concisely and comprehensively than by quoting the following passage from page 9 of that report:— “ Agriculture has not been regarded simply as a business, but “as something more. What is that something more and why ? “It is partly that agriculture is charged with the use of the land, ““ which is limited in amount and of peculiar social and economic “value; partly the great importance of the produce of the soil “to the life and industry of the people, in peace and especially “in war; and partly ideas as to the value of a flourishing rural “ population in the concentrated and intense life of|the modern “industrial state.”’ Such then is the basis of our whole report, and such in partic- ular is the ground on which we justify our claims for certain measures of aid or relief by the State. There is a relatively large area of land in Scotland of second-class quality which was ploughed up in war-time, but which it will not pay to cultivate under present conditions. From an economic point of view, it should remain under grass. If it is desirable that such land should be cropped for national reasons—food supply, increased employment and a larger rural population—then the nation must help in some way. In agriculture, as in other productions, economic laws will prevail. If it were the national policy to leave the systems and conditions of farming to be determined solely by the personal interests of the individuals immediately concerned, we should not have advanced some of our recommendations ; but if, as we would strongly urge, and as our terms of reference suggest, much broader considerations affecting the community as a whole are to be the determining factors, we hold that our proposals are fully warranted. To go further, it may be argued that the existing burdens on the land—those burdens of Imperial and local taxation, cost of transport, etc., to which we shall refer later—constitute in effect a tariff on home-grown food, which is thus handicapped when it enters the markets in competition with imported produce. Our ° agriculture accordingly may be said to carry a weight in excess of that borne by other home industries, so that on grounds of 7 equity, apart from the reasons given above, it deserves to have its load lightened. We believe there is much force in this con- tention, especially in view of the very large increase in rural rates, referred to later, but we prefer to give special prominence to the broader issues at stake. Our endeavour during all our discussions to take a wide outlook on our subject may perhaps have contributed in some degree to the harmony of our proceedings and the unanimity of our findings. The Conference included landowners, farmers, small-holders and wage-earners. Superficially, these are classes of persons whose interests, on occasion, may not coincide ; who, at any rate, may be expected to look at problems from different angles ; and whose views thereon may diverge or even conflict. Throughout our meetings, while discussion was perfectly free, there was no trace of that conflict ; there was, on the other hand, invariably a cordial and successful effort at agreement on those minor points on which opinions may at first have differed. Our experience has been both enlightening and encouraging. It shows that there was a general conviction that the interest of one is the interest of all and that the intefest of agriculture is the interest of the State. We trust that our unanimity may be of some value in commending our views to the government and to the country. We come now to consider more closely the means by which the objects stated in our terms of reference may be attained. At the outset, we may at once express our opinion that there can be no large increase in the area of arable land in Scotland save through the agency of some measures which would protect — Scottish farming from over-seas competition or from the vicissi- tudes to which it is exposed by fluctuations in world prices through the operation of causes outwith British control. Such measures might take the form, for example, of tariffs on imports, subsidies, or regulation of prices in the home markets. But, excluding our recommendation of a duty on imported malting barley, we have thought it futile to formulate on these lines a policy which we cannot think would find acceptance with either parliament or people, and which could not, in any event, be regarded as stable and permanent. We therefore fall back on less heroic and, we hope, non-controversial proposals. It may be objected that none of them is very far-reaching, but we believe that, if they were adopted, their cumulative effect would be to help in maintaining the arable area, to lead to a better average standard of farming, and to secure a larger rural population. LAND DRAINAGE. There is probably no improvement of which land in Scotland, both arable and grazing, is at present so urgently in need as drainage, and to no purpose could money be devoted that would yield a better return in increased food production. For a number of years from about the middle of last century onwards a consider- able amount of drainage was done, largely by means of State 8 loans. But, until recently, very little land had been drained for many years, chiefly owing to the lack of capital and partly owing to the scarcity of skilled drainers. In consequence, many of the old drains are no longer working, and a large amount of land is sour and wet. This is a state of matters which tends to nullify the best efforts of the farmer; to attain a maximum yield is impossible, much of the labour of cultivation is unproductive, fertilisers are only partially effective, and live-stock, especially sheep, are more liable to attack by various diseases. To remedy these conditions is the first essential to agricultural progress. During the past four winters a certain revival of drainage has taken place, stimulated by the grants given for the relief of un- employment. The conditions of the grants, briefly, were that they were not to exceed half the cost of the work, or the total wages of the unemployed men engaged on it or £10 per acre of land improved. The scheme, though open to certain objections from the agricultural point of view, has on the whole proved beneficial. The figures relating to last winter’s work are not yet available, but during the three winters 1921-2 to 1923-4, the total grants earned amounted to about £85,000, while the areas improved are estimated at between 14,000 and 15,000 acres of arable land and upwards of half a million acres of hill land. During the past season, probably about an additional £30,000 in grants will have been earned. If the total grants for the four years thus amount to approximately £115,000 and this represents, very roughly, half the cost of the work done, we find that well over £200,000 has been expended on drainage during the period mentioned. This is satisfactory so far as it goes, but it is obvious to all who are familiar with farming conditions in Scotland that very much more remains to be done. And it appears quite certain to us that without some form of State assistance very little can be accomplished either by proprietor or-by tenant. The question then arises whether the present scheme sufficiently meets the case. In our view it does not. It is to be noted that it is primarily and essentially for the purpose of relieving unemployment and only incidentally for the improvement of drainage. While appreciating its benefit as a means of relief we do not think that the best results can accrue to agriculture so long as the present conditions obtain, which in effect necessitate the employment of a large proportion of men quite unskilled in the work and, it may be, unused to hard manual work of any kind. It is manifest that this adds to the time occupied and the total cost involved. Further; it is a ham- pering condition that no grants can be earned after a date in spring or early summer, which means that most of the work must be done in the winter months when the weather frequently is quite unsuitable. Perhaps the most unsatisfactory feature of the scheme is the uncertainty of its continuance from year to year. Men who may have acquired some skill in the work have thus no inducement to settle down in the country with reasonable confidence that they will find steady employment as drainers, ~) while manufacturers of tiles are reluctant to re-open old tile works or to accumulate stocks in.summer without some measure of certainty that they will find a market for them. We understand that this last cause has interfered to some extent with the execution of work arranged for this season. Our view therefore, is that the Government should give financial aid for land drainage schemes approved by the Board of Agri- culture for Scotland, and that no restrictions should be imposed, as to the labour to be engaged, the maximum rate at which it is to be remunerated or the period of the year within which it is to be employed. That a considerable amount of unemployed labour would be engaged is certain and in this way some reduction of the cost of unemployment benefit would result. We recommend that the assistance should take the form of a grant not exceeding half the cost of the work, or alternatively, to meet the case of a proprietor or occupier who is unable to provide his share, of a loan of the whole amount, free of interest and repayable over a period of say, 30 years—an arrangement which would approx- imately equate the present values of the two alternatives. In order to simplify future repairs of the drains so constructed, plans on the 25 inch ordnance map should be kept of all assisted schemes, and should be obtainable, on payment, from the Board of Agriculture. We have dealt at some length with the subject of farm drainage because of its urgency and extent. But there are other questions relating to drainage to which we would direct attention. It is well known that arterial drainage of large areas, e.g., the valley of the Spey, would be of great value. We recognise, however, that schemes of this magnitude may raise issues to deal with which is hardly within our province, and we therefore do no more than commend such schemes to the consideration of the Govern- ment. But it is manifest that benefit would accrue from schemes for smaller drainage areas such as are now empowered to be constituted in England under Section 16 of the Land Drainage Act of 1918, which is not operative in Scotland. We are agreed that powers for the delineation of such areas and for the constitution of Drainage Boards with functions similar to those conferred by the English Act, should be conferred on the Secretary for Scotland by legislation, and administered by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland. LIME. It follows from what has been said regarding the undrained state of much of the land, that in order to get it into a healthy and productive condition, lime, as well as drainage, will be necessary to neutralise the acidity contributed to by excessive moisture and insufficient aeration. In former years, the appli- cation of lime was a regular part of farming practice, but for some reason it gradually became much less general—partly perhaps owing to a quite erroneous belief that the growing use of 10 artificial fertilisers rendered lime unnecessary, whereas in actual fact applications of acid manures such as sulphate of ammonia and superphosphate accentuated the need for lime. There is probably no factor, apart from defective drainage, that at present so limits the production on arable land in Scotland as the want of lime. Many of the lime kilns whose best customers were the farmers in the district have been abandoned, and it is this fact that now makes a resumption of the practice of liming so difficult and expensive. We think it desirable therefore that the Board of Agriculture for Scotland should make a survey of the supplies of lime and of existing and disused lime-kilns in the country and that financial assistance should be given by the State for the establishment or re-opening of kilns where they are required. Experiments to determine the form in which it is most economical to apply lime under varying conditions are most desirable. In view of the growing use of ground lime as compared with the other forms, it is unfortunate, and appears to be anomalous, that the railway charges for the conveyance of ground lime in bags are higher than those for shell lime in bulk. BUILDINGS AND EQUIPMENT. On many farms and small holdings the buildings and other equipment are much in want of repair, or renewal. Where the buildings are dilapidated or insufficient, adequate numbers of stock cannot be kept under proper conditions, farmyard manure is not produced in the requisite amount and may lose in value through exposure to the weather and the fertility of the whole farm suffers. The cost of renewals, extensions or repairs is now high and is frequently prohibitive to the impoverished owner of a large estate or to an occupying owner who may have exhausted his capital in buying his holding. (This subject is referred to in the paragraph relating to Land Tenure). As however the main- — tenance of buildings and equipment is essential to successful farming, and especially to arable farming, we recommend that, money should be advanced on loan by the State at a low rate of interest for approved work under this heading. RURAL HOUSING. One of the conditions precedent to any considerable extension of arable farming would be the building of more houses for the additional workers required. But even to meet existing require- ments, we are satisfied that more and better housing is urgently needed. The many national advantages to be gained by having a larger rural population are admitted on all hands; the aspect of the matter with which we are specially concerned is that it is the best and most intelligent men, those whose skill and energy are most necessary for progressive and intensive farming, who are the most likely to become discontented with bad housing con- ditions and to seek for better things, either in the towns or, it may be,.in other countries. We are convinced that to ensure the proper I] cultivation of the present area of arable land, and to help in preventing its further diminution, the number of houses must be increased and improvements must be made on many of the existing houses. The various Housing Acts, so far as we are aware, provide no assistance of any kind for the improvement and modernising of existing houses, though such aid, which would help materially to solve the rural housing problem, is a clamant necessity. As regards the provision of new houses, these Acts have been of little or no benefit throughout the greater part of rural Scotland. It is true that by means of loans for improvements or for re-building granted by the Board of Agriculture under Section 9 of the Small Landholders (Scotland). Act, 1911, combined with subsidies from the Board of Health in cases where new houses of the required standard are built, the quality of the housing in the Congested Districts is being steadily raised, and the old “ black house’”’ is slowly but surely disappearing. In general, however, the Housing Acts seem to have been framed with an eye rather to urban than to rural conditions, and the result of this 1s evident in the fact that they have led to very little building of any kind in agricultural districts and to almost none for the accommodation of farm workers. Meanwhile the agricultural industry has been taxed to provide the subsidies for houses for urban workers, Other measures are called for, and we think they should apply to houses for occupation by small holders, persons employed. permanently on farms, drainers, foresters, market-gardeners, tradesmen employed permanently on estates in connection with agriculture, and also by retired farm servants after long service on the land. Special efforts should be made to provide additional houses in those districts where the bothy system prevails, in order that the men may have more comfortable accommodation and may not be deterred from marrying and settling in the country. Our detailed recommendations are as follows:— (1) The houses to be erected should have not less than three apartments and should have a bathroom, unless this condition is dispensed with by the Local Authority. (2) For new houses of concrete, brick or stone, one half of the cost up to a limit of £250 should be provided by the State. (3) For new houses of materials other than concrete, brick or stone, a smaller subsidy proportionate to the lower capital cost and to the durability of the materials should be given; this subsidy might be an annual payment for a period of years, the continuance of the subsidy to depend on proper maintenance of the houses. (4) For the improvement of existing houses which the Local Authority are satisfied can be adequately improved, a subsidy should be given. The particular improvements should be such as would in each case make the house healthy, comfortable, 12 and reasonably up to date, to the satisfaction of the Local Authority. It is suggested that the amount of this subsidy should be one half of the cost of the improvements as passed by the Local Authority, but should not exceed £100. | (5) If there should be any material reduction in building costs or in the rate of interest, these capital payments, as regards future houses or improvements, should be subject to a corre- sponding reduction. (6) Occupying owners should be assisted by loans in addition to grants. (7) Inducement should be given to workers to build houses for their own occupation. Schemes should be devised for this purpose, which should be facilitated both by loan and grant. EDUCATION RESEARCH ab 1G) It is difficult to over-estimate the importance of education and research to agriculture and to rural economy in general. In our view the future prosperity of the industry will depend in great measure on the further extension of technical education and on the carrying out of scientific investigation likely to lead to results capable of practical application. Were it not that the subject has recently been exhaustively investigated we should have been obliged, in view of its importance, to go into it fully, but we are fortunate in having before us the very valuable report of the Departmental Committee, of which Lord Constable was chairman, on “The General Organisation and Finance of Agricultural Education and Research in Scotland.’’* Subject to the quali- fications stated below, we are in cordial agreement with its recommendations} and we strongly urge their early adoption. We would especially support the Committee’s plea for more generous treatment of the Research Institutions by the State. It has been suggested that the sums derived annually from the special tax on agricultural land known as the “‘ Land Tax ”’ should be devoted to the development of agricultural land. This tax yields annually in Scotland a sum of approximately £32,000. Weconsider that this money might equitably be devoted to agricultural education and research. Having regard to the work being accom- plished by the Research Institutions, to their still greater future possibilities, and to the direct economic value of their investi- gations to the farmer, we also think that agriculturists might well consider some concerted system of contributing to their funds. With regard to certain of the recommendations of the Committee, we desire to offer the following observations:— Recommendation 2. We are of opinion that no reduction should be made in the membership of the governing bodies of the colleges, and that the present system of representation should not be altered. Meetings of all the governors are not frequent and the business * 1924 S.O. Publication. ' J For a summary of these, see Appendix I, page 35. 13 is mainly conducted in committee. It has been found desirable, therefore, that these governing bodies should be fairly large in order to provide a sufficient and suitable personnel for the various committees without making undue claims on the time of individual governors. It is also desirable that in the administration of the colleges, close touch should be maintained with all parts of their areas. With regard to the system of representation, Education Authorities, unlike County Councils, represent populous burghs as well as rural districts and their interest-in and knowledge of agricultural conditions are not generally such as to render it expedient that so large a proportion of the governing bodies should be elected by them as is contemplated by Lord Constable’s Committee. Recommendation 8. We deprecate the duplication of county committees and, presumably, of officials, dealing with agricultural matters, and prefer that in each county a committee should be - appointed by the County Council, with powers to co-opt qualified persons nominated by other bodies. (This was substantially the method of appointing the war-time Agricultural Executive Committees). This Committee should have duties and powers to deal with all agricultural questions. Normally the County Clerk should act as secretary of the Committee, but in certain cases it might be necessary for two or more committees to combine in employing an executive officer. (This subject is also referred to under Organisation—See page 23). Recommendation 19. We are in sympathy with the aim of this recommendation, but would point out that the granting of bursaries ‘by Education Authorities is optional and that com- paratively few have been granted to agricultural students in the past. Until Education Authorities change their attitude, materially increased fees would prevent deserving students attending the agricultural colleges, especially in the districts where farms are small. Recommendation 25. We understand that the Development Commissioners make it a condition of their contribution towards the establishment of such an Institute as the proposed Research Institute in Dairying that an equal amount should be subscribed ~ from local sources. In our view the present economic condition of agriculture renders it impracticable to obtain locally such a large capital sum as would be required, and we suggest that the regulation of the Development Commission to this effect should not be enforced, or alternatively, that sufficient monies from other public funds should be made available. Recommendation 29. We do not wish to express any opinion on this recommendation. Soil Surveys and Analyses. This is a subject to which much attention is being devoted in some other countries, notably America. It is probable that much work of a preliminary kind is 14 required before reliable conclusions of direct value in general farming practice are arrived at, but we are glad to know’ that the agricultural colleges have now comprehensive schemes of investigation in progress. We trust this work will be continued and extended and that it may ultimately lead to the establishment of a Soils Bureau under the Board of Agriculture for Scotland. Agricultural Economics. Hitherto, in Scotland at any rate; agricultural teaching and research has been somewhat open to the criticism that it has been based too exclusively on the science underlying increased production, and that the study of the economic factors determining the profit or loss of such production— the ultimate test of success—has been rather neglected. We do not in any way under-rate the benefits reaped from the pure and applied sciences, but it has to be borne in mind that farming is not only an art, it is alsoa business. The two branches of study, scientific and economic, are really complementary, and each is incomplete without the other, a fact that is gaining increased recognition in England as well as abroad. It seems desirable therefore that the teaching of economics should have a more prominent place in the curricula of our colleges and that thorough investigation should be made into the general principles of the subject as well as into methods and results of costing and accounting, with special reference to Scottish agricultural conditions. Demonstration Areas. It is axiomatic that lectures and class- room instruction, useful as they may be, are less convincing to the practical farmer than concrete demonstrations in the field. — We therefore urge strongly the establishment of a large number of demonstration areas, to be carried on under the direction of the county staffs of the colleges, with the advice and assistance of the County Agricultural Committees, where the farmer could see for himself the results obtained from the scientific enquiries of the colleges and research institutions. These areas should be, in general, of five to ten acres in extent. We believe that this means of demonstration would be better than the setting up of a smaller number of demonstration farms, the educational value of which would, in our view, be doubtful and not pro- portionate to the greater cost involved. Improvement of Pastures. While there is not in Scotland the large proportion of low ground permanent pasture to be found in many districts of England, there is a sufficient amount of it to render its proper management a matter of importance, and there is such a very considerable area under rotation grass that any general improvement in it would mean a substantial accession to the stock-carrying capacity of the country as a whole. Excellent work has been done in some of the colleges and elsewhere in studying methods of management, the best mixtures of seeds to sow and the most economical manures to apply under different conditions. It is very desirable that this work should go on, 15 and especially that the information already obtained should be brought more generally to the knowledge of farmers, by means of demonstration areas such as we have mentioned above. The improvement of hill grazings is more difficult, and, over considerable areas, perhaps impossible of achievement. But when one realises that no less than 50 per cent. of the total area of Scotland comes under the official designation ‘‘ Mountain and Heath Land used for Grazing,” the importance of the problem is seen in its true perspective. We are glad to learn that work on this subject has been begun. It is certainly worthy of the most careful scientific investigation. Education (Scotland) Act, 1918. While cordially agreeing that the fullest educational facilities should be available for those who may desire to make use of them, we are of opinion that the universal and compulsory extension of the period of education up to 18 years of age would, by withdrawing labour from the land and interfering with the practical training of the young agri- cultural workers, necessarily result in materially reducing arable cultivation and food production. Tob Orion ou PP ICY, 2 ti PHONES, AND TRANSPORT. Electrical Supply. Farming differs from most other industries in many respects, and notably in that it must, in the nature of things, consist of a large number of comparatively small and isolated units of production and does not permit of integration at relatively few large centres, organised on the factory principle. This is a difference that has both advantages and defects. One of the defects is the difficulty of providing power on farms of moderate or small size without excessive overhead charges. Yet, in up-to-date farming, machinery is playing a more and more important part, and for the economical use of machinery a supply of cheap, convenient and easily transmissible power is a necessity. The development of electrical supply seems to provide a promising means of solving this difficulty in many parts of the country. We would therefore urge on the Government the importance of developing supplies of electrical power on a national basis and we recommend that in electrical power schemes the supply of power at cheap rates to the locality in which a power station or transforming station is situated should be specially kept in view (1) for lighting, (2) for farm machinery and (3) for industries based on agricultural products. Where water power is to be harnessed we think the catchment area to which it belongs has a claim to special consideration, even if a local supply entail separate plant or transformers. We suggest that the Board of Agriculture should take this matter up with the Electricity Commissioners. 16 Telephones. or the reasons indicated at the beginning of the preceding paragraph, the telephone is of the greatest utility, both social and commercial, to those engaged in agriculture. Socially, it brings those living in remote farm houses and cottages into touch with their fellows, it enables medical or other aid to be summoned speedily in case of emergency, and, in short, it helps to break down that sense of loneliness which is oppressive to some minds and which is undoubtedly a factor in contributing to the “rural exodus.’ Commercially, its advantages as a bearer of market and other intelligence and as a saver of time are obvious. It would therefore be a great gain to agriculturists and to country-dwellers in general if the installation of rural telephones were facilitated in every possible way. We have accordingly examined the new conditions under which a telephone service is supplied by the Post Office and find that from the agricultural point of view they leave much to be desired. (1) The conditions for the establishment of rural party lines are too arduous and throw on private individuals a risk which the Post Office might properly take. (2) The party line system should be altered so as to admit of one telephone to the mile in place of two. (3) The limit at the flat rate should be extended to 3 miles, which would facilitate the opening of a large number of exchanges now held up for want of sufficient subscribers. (4) It would be of great advantage to farmers if a telephone could be installed at every railway station, especially in regard to the arrival of l-ve stock and the ordering of wagons. (5) We think that telephones installed at farm-houses should be charged for at the “residential’’ rate and not at the rate applicable to installations at business premises. Wireless. We suggest that Broadcasting Centres might be supplied with and asked to intimate market prices from a few standard markets along with the weather forecast in the evening. These could be furnished by the same sources from which the Board of Agriculture derive their weekly return. Transport. (1) By Road. The maintenance of roads and par- ticularly of unclassified roads, is dealt with in the section of our report relating to Taxation and Rating (see page 29). (2) By Rail. Railway rates are far too high from the agri- cultural point of view. Improved organisation and marketing might enable farmers to secure oftener than they do now the minimum rates offered by the Companies and also to transfer more of their traffic to the roads ; but the main difficulty can be met only by a subsidy and therefore seems to lie outside the scope of this report. We would, however, suggest that for long distances the rate per mile might be further reduced as compared with that charged for short distances. (3) By Sea. All efforts to increase production in the West Highlands and Islands are at present hopelessly handicapped by the cost of sea transport. Figures have been submitted to us Mi illustrating the costs of transport from Glasgow and Leith to various ports in the northern and western islands, and are such as seem to justify further enquiry. One remedy appears to lie in co-operation for the employment of “ puffers’’ and the collection of produce for full cargoes. IMPORTATION OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE. More than once in our report we have occasion to refer to the competition, both foreign and colonial, with which our agriculture has to contend. Were the competition always a perfectly fair one, the consumer in all cases knowing the origin of the goods he was buying, the struggle for existence would be sufficiently severe ; but when, as there is reason to believe, imported goods are sometimes sold, by design or otherwise, in such a way as to suggest to the buyer that he is getting home products, it can hardly be denied by any one that British agriculture is labouring under an unjust handicap. In the interests, therefore, both of the producers of home-grown food, and of the consumers, it is desirable that all imported agricultural produce should be clearly distin- guishable as such. Where possible, imported produce should be marked and, where the nature of the commodity renders this impracticable, the vendor should be required to give a declaration stating the country of origin, in a manner similar to that provided under the Seeds Act and Regulations. Legislation should be passed at an early date on the lines of the Merchandise Marks (Agricultural Produce) Bill, 1924, which required the marking on importation of frozen or chilled meat, bacon, ham, eggs, dried eggs, dead poultry, dairy produce, (7.e., milk, cream and cheese), honey and oatmeal, and the marking on sale of meat, (including bacon, etc.), eggs, dried eggs, honey and dairy produce (as above). We recommend that potatoes also should be included among the produce mentioned in the Bill. In order to protect the potato crop in this country as far as possible from disease, the importation of potatoes, liable owing to their origin to be carriers of diseases such as mosaic, leaf roll, etc., should be prohibited, in the same manner as potatoes likely to be infected with wart disease or corky scab are at present excluded. With regard to certain kinds of dairy produce, e.g., dried milk, it has been represented to us that the home producer, who is subject to restrictions affecting the methods of production and the quality of his products, is exposed to unfair competition by importation from countries where no such restrictions are imposed. The consumer, also, of these imported goods, although he may be able to buy them at a less price than that of the home produce, is liable to suffer through having no security as to their quality. We therefore recommend that the importation of dairy produce produced under conditions which render its quality doubtful should be prohibited. 18 IMPROVEMENT OF iv LOCK: Owing to the climate and configuration of a great part of the country, animal husbandry is, and must necessarily remain, a predominant feature in Scottish agriculture. Even in the arable as distinct from the pastoral districts, the success of the farming depends to a greater or less degree on the numbers and quality of the stock kept. Any measures therefore that will raise the general standard of the live stock throughout the country must have far-reaching effects and are deserving of the strongest support. The subject has two branches, the scientific and the administrative. In connection with the former, many problems of genetics and nutrition are awaiting solution. These however, are matters for the research institutes and the colleges. It is rather with the administrative side of the question that we wish to deal here. We are aware of the good results obtained through the schemes for the improvement of live stock administered by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland. We have examined these schemes carefully and our only suggestions are, not that the methods adopted should be altered, but that certain of the schemes should be developed and extended. Our detailed views are as follows:— Horse-Breeding. The requirements of the industry are being met by (a) the administration of the Horse-Breeding Act of 1918 and (0) the Board’s schemes at present in operation for the encourage- ment of horse-breeding. Cattle-Breeding. We are unanimously of the opinion that the prevalent use of bulls of inferior quality is acting as a serious deterrent to the development of the industry, and consequently to the increased production of food. Many of the calves produced are unsuitable for rearing, which results in an enormous wastage of animal life and the export of much money in the purchase of store stock. The question as to whether the use of “scrub” bulls should, as for example in Northern Ireland, be prohibited by compulsion has been fully considered but we have come to the conclusion that the administration of any legislation to this effect would be not only very costly but so difficult that the object in view might not be achieved to such an extent as would justify the means. The Board’s scheme for the encouragement of cattle breeding is restricted to “‘ small farmers’ who occupy holdings not exceeding £100 rental or 100 acres in extent. This makes provision for those districts, chiefly in the North of Scotland, where the number of farms limited to this size is sufficient to enable the scheme to become effective. There is some reason to believe, however, that the use of the “scrub”’ bull by “ small farmers’’ is not more common than by farmers outwith the limits prescribed in the Board’s scheme. We are strongly of opinion that if the scheme were extended so that the service of cows belonging to all farmers irrespective of the size or rental of their holdings would count towards the earning of the Board’s premium, this would go a long way towards the gradual elim- ination of the “scrub”’ bull. 19 Pig-Breeding. In view of the development in the establishment of bacon factories and of the demand for bacon pigs being much greater than for porkers, more attention should be paid by pig- breeders to the rearing of the type of pig most suitable for bacon purposes. At present there seems to be a deplorable lack of discrimination in the selection of suitable sires and we recommend that the Board, in the administration of their scheme for the improvement of pig breeding, should advise pig breeders of the economic necessity for the selection of suitable sires for bacon purposes. It is also considered desirable that an effort should be made to make the scheme of the Board better known to farmers, as it appears that more advantage might be taken of the benefits offered. Sheep-Breeding. We consider that the breeding of sheep does not require any impetus other than what is already given under the Board’s scheme, which is applicable to the crofting counties and to small holding settlements in other parts of Scotland. Poultry-Breeding. In view of the growth of this industry during the last few years and the assistance already given by the Govern- ment towards its development, we do not think it necessary to make any recommendation on the subject. DAIRYING. It is generally admitted that the consumption of milk and milk products in this country is considerably below the optimum that is desirable in the interests of public health. But at the same time it is true that at present there is no great effective demand that remains unsatisfied. Development of the dairy industry, therefore, particularly that part of it which is engaged in the fresh milk trade, can come only from a fuller appreciation of the nutritive value of milk. Stimulation of the demand is wanted, but it must be added that such stimulation would be facilitated by a further grading up of the supply where it is inferior in cleanliness or quality. In this matter demand and supply are in some measure mutually inter-dependent ; the forward movement must come from both directions. We believe that a strong impetus can be given to this movement by an organisation such as the National Health and Dairy Council, now in process of formation, which will include representatives of all the interests concerned. We recommend accordingly that every support, both public and official, should be given to the Council so that it may become an active and effective agency in achieving the objects which on every ground are so desirable. Various matters affecting the dairy industry are dealt with in other sections of our report, ¢.g., those relating to farm buildings, research, milk- recording, tuberculosis, etc. Milk-Recording. The benefits of milk-recording in improving dairy stock and raising the average standard of production have been fully proved in this and other countries, The system, 20 however, is by no means so general in practice as it might be. In view of the importance of a plentiful milk supply to the health of the nation, we think that additional government money would be well spent in encouraging recording, particularly on the smaller dairy farms, where the expense involved is relatively large. ERADICATION OF BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS. The serious losses caused in this country by bovine tuber- culosis are well known. Scotland is pre-eminent as a stock-breeding country and if this position is to be maintained, the problems associated with tuberculosis cannot be left for each individual farmer to solve for himself. The need for combined effort has been recognised in other countries, the governments of which have come to the assistance of the farmers in their endeavours to eliminate the disease. We have observed that in the House of Commons it was recently stated, in reply to a question, that the Minister of Agriculture had at present under consideration means for the elimination of bovine tuberculosis and proposed to intro- duce shortly a measure on the lines of the Tuberculosis Order of 1914, which it was added was a necessary first step in any pro- cedure of the kind. While welcoming this declaration we venture to formulate a further scheme which could be carried out at a comparatively small cost and which aims at complete and final eradication of tuberculosis in dairy herds. The Tuberculosis Order required persons having cows or other bovines showing certain clinical signs of tuberculosis to give information of the fact to a police constable or an inspector of the Local Authority. A veterinary surgeon in private practice who was of opinion that any animal he examined showed similar signs of tuberculosis was bound to notify the fact to the inspector, and a veterinary inspector himself might require the removal of a suspected animal from a market. The Order further provided that with the consent of the owner the veterinary inspector might apply the tuberculin test to any suspected cow or other bovine animal. Compensation to a varying extent was payable on account of animals found tuberculous and slaughtered, and the costs of tuberculin tests and _ other administration were to be borne by the Local Authority. It is fairly clear that the Order would operate satisfactorily to a considerable extent in the detection of tuberculosis in bovines, but it is very doubtful whether the Order alone could ever be depended upon to secure the total eradication of tuberculosis in dairy herds. Further, it is probable that under the Order the operations of Local Authorities would require to be directed towards the less conscientious farmers, and that the costs of administration and the compensation payable would be devoted principally to those farmers who made no consistent attempt to rid their herds of the disease. In the circumstances we think it not only useful but highly advisable that the Bill contemplated * 21 by the Minister of Agriculture should be supplemented by a scheme providing for some small assistance to farmers in the attempt to eradicate tuberculosis entirely from their herds. In support of this general principle we would point out that— (2) breeders throughout the country would welcome such assistance ; (b) every breeding herd from which tuberculosis is eradicated _ provides for other herds a constant supply of young animals free from tuberculosis ; (c) eradication of tuberculosis from dairy herds is feasible, _as the existence of many Certified and Grade A (Tuberculin Tested) herds demonstrates ; it is, of course, impossible for many farmers to qualify for a licence for the sale of Certified or Grade A (Tuber- culin Tested) Milk, as they are far removed from the market or have not sufficient milk for sale; (d) it is desirable that, at a time when measures for the partial eradication of tuberculosis aré contemplated, there should be some encouragement to farmers to proceed to undertake further measures in advance of the minimum requirements. The scheme which we propose contemplates assistance merely to the extent of free tuberculin tests and clinical examinations and some assistance in the provision of temporary cowsheds. We do not think that it is too much to ask that free tuberculin testing and some assistance in the provision of temporary accommedation should be provided, especially as we have reason to believe that Local Authorities would not grudge the services of their officers in a suitable attempt to eradicate tuberculosis from dairy herds. We would point out that the city of Edinburgh places the services of its veterinary staff at the disposal of those who send milk from farms in the country to that city. In the county of Lanark the fees for the tuberculin testing of herds whose milk is graded have been reduced to a comparatively small sum, and other evidence could be adduced to show that Local Author- ities are willing to assist in this matter. The details of the supplementary and voluntary scheme, which is based on that of the Ayrshire Cattle Herd Book Society and which we strongly advocate, will be found in Appendix II. page 37. In view of the importance of such a scheme to the health of the nation and to the agriculture of the country as a whole, we further suggest as follows:— (a) For a period of ten years the Treasury should be authorised to pay to Local Authorities a fixed sum in respect of each herd dealt with by a Local Authority under the scheme. This sum might be calculated as 50 per cent. of the cost of the veterinary inspector’s visits and of the tuberculin. The total amount involved would not be large. 22 (2) For the same period the Treasury should be authorised -to assist in the provision of temporary buildings to enable farmers to — carry out the scheme. Breeders of valuable animals would pro- bably welcome such a scheme but it will be realised that it is not possible for such farmers to dispose of valuable reacting animals immediately, though ultimate disposal of all reactors is the object to be aimed at. In this connection we suggest that the Treasury might be authorised either to advance money at a low rate of interest for the provision of suitable temporary buildings where required, or preferably to make a grant to defray a substantial part of the cost in each case. (c) The temporary buildings so erected should be exempted by law from the structural provisions of Dairy Bye-laws made in terms of section 8 of the Milk and Dairies (Scotland) Act, 1914. HEATHER-BURNING, GAME AND VERMIN. We are well aware of the importance of regular and systematic heather-burning in order to maintain the stock-carrying capacity of large areas of Scottish hill grazings, and also of the need to prevent damage by deer, winged game, rabbits and vermin. These subjects were carefully enquired into by The Game and Heather-Burning (Scotland) Committee, whose report was pub- lished in 1921,* and by the Departmental Committee on Deer Forests, which issued its report in 1922. After perusal of the recommendations{ contained in these reports, we feel that it is unnecessary for us to investigate these matters further. We agree generally with the recommendations in the majority report of the former Committee and also with those of the report on Deer Forests in so far as they have a bearing on agriculture. As no legislation has yet followed on these reports we strongly urge that action be taken to give effect to the proposals of the Com- mittees at the earliest possible date. In view of the serious loss caused annually to agricultural crops and property by rats, which are also a menace to public health, we think it regrettable that the provisions of the Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act are not administered with equal stringency by all local authorities. We are aware that adequate and persistent measures are adopted in some districts, but these efforts may be partially nullified by inaction in other. areas. To deal adequately with this pest, the work of repression must be general and continuous. Bracken. It is, unfortunately, notorious that bracken has been spreading greatly in recent years, with seriously detrimental effects on the productivity of hill grazings. We have made some enquiry into the subject and have obtained interesting and useful information from persons who have endeavoured to eradicate the weed. It appears that systematic cutting at the * Cmd. 1401. ¢ Cmd. 1636. — ¢ See Appendix III, page 39. 23 proper season is the best means yet discovered of dealing with it but as the available data are rather limited we do not feel warranted in making any definite recommendation, except that stated under “ Taxation” on page 30. Further research is required both as to the causes of the increase of bracken and as to the best means of checking it. ORGANISATION. In the section of our report dealing with Education and Research, we refer to the setting up of County Agricultural Com- mittees because of the importance of having the services of local organisations to assist in the administration of agricultural teaching and demonstiation work. But, as we indicate there, other duties would fall to be undertaken by the County Com- mittees, which might have some slight variability of composition to adapt them broadly to the different types of work coming within their purview, but not such large modifications of personnel as to constitute in effect more than one basic committee. We do not think it advisable for us tq attempt to define precisely the constitution of such committees or the duties with which they might be entrusted but we are satisfied that they might have a wide sphere of usefulness in connection with many matters of agricultural administration and development. The experience of the war-time agricultural executive committees showed how effective such local agencies can be. The diminution of their duties, however, following on the repeal of the Corn Production Acts, led to their gradual demise, a fact which significantly shows that if such bodies are to maintain successful activity they must have powers and responsibilities sufficient to make the members feel justified in devoting the necessary time and energy to their work. Such committees are essential for the administration of the legislation we have urged in connection with game, heather- burning and deer forests, and they might also assist in the admini- stration of the unrepealed section of the Corn Production Acts relating to the destruction of injurious weeds, as well as with such matters as the organisation of a tuberculosis scheme, milk- recording, marketing, live stock improvement, and drainage. Greater activity, for which there is ample room, might result from their assistance in the administration of the Fertilisers and Feeding Stufis Act, and of the Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act referred to above. There should be no lack of useful work for active and interested committees, and we believe that, given suitable opportunities, these bodies would speedily establish themselves as an integral part of the machinery of agricultural administration. MARKETING. - With regard to the marketing of live stock at public sales, we recommend that the weighing of store cattle, excluding§ those under six months of age, and also excluding pedigree stock and 24 dairy cattle, should be made compulsory by legislation. Those who attend markets regularly might not derive much benefit from this innovation, but others, and particularly those who buy or sell only a small number of cattle annually, would be placed in a position of greater equality with those with whom they dealt. It seems improbable that, among either sellers or buyers, anyone could object to the additional and exact information conveyed by the weigh-bridge being made available, except those who might desire to have an undue advantage over others whom they con- ceived to be less expert than themselves. In suggesting such legislation we have in view that the powers conferred on the Board of Agriculture under the Weighing of Cattle Acts to exempt certain sales from the provisions of these Acts as to the installation of weigh-bridges, would remain unaffected. We are in general agreement with the views expressed by the Departmental Committee on Distribution and Prices of Agri- cultural Produce. (Interim Report on Milk and Milk Products, paragraph 214.)* We recommend particularly the adoption of a cash-on-delivery system both by the Post Office and by the railways. This system, which should be applicable to parcels up to a weight of say, 14 Ibs., would do much to bridge the gap between the producer and the consumer and, by stimulating the demand for certain articles, would prove of much benefit to agri- culture. While it might not at once prove remunerative to the Post Office or the railways we believe that as its advantages became recognised it would ere long attain such dimensions as would render it profitable. So far as the Post Office is concerned it is to be noted that the system would probably give rise to a > certain amount of additional correspondence arising out of a large number of small transactions. We further recommend that the parcel postage rates should be graded in the same way as before the war, 1.¢., with an increase of Id. per lb. for each lb. after the first. It appears that, with respect to cheese as well as some other agricultural products, the cost to the consumer is unduly raised by the numbers of middlemen through whose hands it passes and to the profits taken by them. At present the maker of the finest cheese does not receive a sufficiently greater price, as compared with that of average quality, to reward him for the additional expense and trouble involved. We would accordingly favour any arrangement by which a closer connection could be established between the producer and the consumer. The method of sale by cash-on-delivery referred to above would be one means of — helping to accomplish this. Co-operative marketing would also be of assistance. We touch on this subject in the next section, but we may remark here that there is much room for improvement in the grading of dairy and poultry produce and placing them on the market in as attractive a manner as possible. * 1923, Cmd. 1854. 29 We favour the imposition of a duty of 10/- per quarter on imported malting and distilling barley, as recommended in paragraph 28 of the interim Report of the Agricultural Tribunal. This would be a distinct aid, particularly to occupiers of holdings on the lighter classes of land, especially in some of the northern counties, and would certainly tend to keep such land in cultivation. We have reason to believe that in some cases combinations of producers raise the prices of their goods unduly when trading with individual farmers. Instances that have come to our notice are those of iron sold for smithy purposes and oils used for agri- cultural machinery. This is a matter for which it is difficult to suggest a specific remedy. Concerted action by farmers might combat this; publicity might also in some measure act as a ~ deterrent. CO-OPERATION. Criticism, more or less well informed, 1s sometimes directed at the Scottish farmer because of his failure to adopt co-operative methods on anything like the scale on which they are practised in certain other countries, notably Denmark. While admitting the fact, we think that the critics do not always take sufficiently into account the essential differences between the two countries in respect not only of their agriculture but of their whole economic structure. In Denmark, agriculture is practically the only industry ; there are no great internal markets, therefore export is inevitable ; and to obtain a firm footing in a foreign market, the Danish farmers, of whom the vast majority are small-holders, had perforce to specialise in production and to combine together for the disposal in bulk of a limited number of products, carefully standardised as to quality. Differences there may be too in tradition and temperament between the agriculturists of the two countries. In saying this, we do not wish in any way to belittle the altogether admirable organisation of the Danes or to suggest that we have not much to learn from them. But where the two sets of factors are so different it is hardly reasonable to cavil at the dissimilarity of the results ; and while the Scottish farmers have, admittedly, not yet achieved any very general success as co-operators, they may perhaps be able to point to one or two other matters in which they have not altogether failed. The advantages, however, of co-operative methods of buying and selling, particularly of certain classes of agricultural produce and by crofters and the smaller farmers, have been clearly established. Indeed, after having reviewed generally the results of co-operative enterprise both at home and abroad, we are convinced that a wide application of this form of economic organisation would tend greatly to assist in achieving the aims set forth in our terms of reference, 26 Education in the principles, advantages, working, etc. of agricultural co-operation is a necessary preliminary to any wide expansion of the policy. But it is useless to attempt to impose any particular scheme of co-operation on the farmers. When the necessary information has been supplied to them, they must themselves provide the spirit and driving force, adapting the machinery to suit their own local requirements. If the movement is to succeed in any district, it must proceed by virtue of its own | momentum. No feature of Danish co-operation is more remark- able than its spontaneity. We are of opinion that the work of propaganda and instruction in co-operative methods is better left in the hands of a repre- sentative body such as the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society than transferred to a government department, as has lately been done in England. On enquiring of the above Society we understand that some 231 societies are affiliated to the parent society. By far the most numerous are the small crofter societies of the Highlands and Islands. A number of well-managed and successful dairy and creamery societies exist in the south-west, while various purchasing societies with a greater or less turnover exist on the eastern seaboard. Few organisations of any note seem to exist for the handling of grain, potatoes, fat stock, and wool—the staple products of the better farming districts of Scotland. This is doubtless partly due to the nature of these products, which do not require to be marketed in small quantities at frequent intervals, as do milk, eggs, butter, etc., and partly to the fact that there are in these districts more large farms, the occupiers of which, handling greater quantities of goods and having considerable business experience, do not feel themselves at any great disadvantage in carrying through their individual trans- actions by the ordinary commercial channels. Nevertheless, in order that they may be able to weigh carefully the benefits of co-operation, we think that the subject should be brought prom- inently before farmers in all districts. In a business such as agriculture, in which the turnover is necessarily slow, the need for short term loans is likely to be greater than in many other industries. We trust therefore that advantage will be taken of the facilities provided by the Agri- cultural Credits Act, 1923, the policy of which should be per- severingly pursued. LAND TENURE. We are conscious that in discussing this subject, there is a danger of being carried into political or economic regions con- siderably beyond the immediate confines of our remit. The present situation in Scotland, however, is a very critical one ; its future development is bound to have a direct reaction on the extent and intensity of Scottish farming, and it is to this aspect of the matter that we have endeavoured to limit our attention in stating the problem and in giving our views upon it. ll a e ye i. a. 27 We have accordingly examined carefully the large and important question of whether Scottish Land Tenure in future should be based mainly on the system of landlord and tenant, or on that of occupying ownership. We wish to record our opinion that the former system, under which large amounts of capital were provided for agriculture at usually very low rates of interest, has, on most estates, been of great service to the industry in the past. In many cases rents have represented no more than interest, in some cases a low rate of interest, on the cost of the equipment. Reliable figures have been submitted to us which bear this out. In no other way could capital for the agricultural industry be so cheaply provided. We recognise however, that the trend of recent legislation and the burdens of rating and taxation now borne by landed property, must, if continued, inevitably result in a further breaking up of the large estates and a consequent extension of the system of occupying ownership. We think that, given suitable conditions, there is room for both systems in the country, and that indeed both should exist side by side. But in view of the transition which, though as yet partial, is in progress, it would appear to be only prudent that the nation should face the alternatives and come to a reasoned decision as to whether one system is to prevail over the other, and, if so, which of the two is to predominate. If the landlord and tenant system is to be maintained even to a substantial extent, conditions must be instituted which will induce landlords to provide the necessary capital for the maintenance, improvement and devel- opment of their estates and confidence must be restored that they will not be penalised for such an investment by burdensome or hampering legislation. If, on the other hand, the extension of occupying ownership is to be encouraged, financial assistance by way of loan would require to be afforded to prospective purchasers and particularly to those tenants who, on the threatened sale of an estate, must either undertake the burdens of proprietorship on insufficient capital or submit to compulsory removal, with the almost irresistible temptation to get what they can out of the land before their enforced departure. The present state of affairs, in which the landlord and his capital are being gradually withdrawn from agriculture without any measures being taken to ensure adequate replacement, cannot but react adversely on the industry and on rural life generally. In view of the foregoing considerations, and of our opinion that both systems of tenure should co-exist, it is recommended in particular that the state should provide loans on favourable terms both to landlords to enable them to carry out necessary agri- cultural improvements on their estates (in this connection reference is made to other sections of the report dealing with housing, farm equipment, etc.) and to tenants who may wish to purchase their holdings. With regard to the latter, we approve generally of the following motion which was carried at the meeting of the Scottish Council of Agriculture, held on 7th March, 1924:—“‘ That 28 the Agricultural Credits Act, 1923, be amended to provide that the tenant of a farm on which he resides, who, through enforced sale, is obliged to purchase or quit his holding, may, if he desires, be granted financial aid, at a reasonable rate of interest, to the extent of three-fourths of the value of his holding, and on the security of his holding.’’ We suggest however that the penultimate clause should be altered to read “ to the extent of three-fourths of the assessed capital value of his holding.”’ ‘‘ Led Farms ’’ or ‘‘ Out Farms.’’ ‘This is a subject that admits of some argument. On the one hand it may be urged that the system of non-resident occupation is both anti-social and likely to lead to lower production and less employment ; from the other point of view it may be asked why a progressive and enterprising farmer should be debarred from taking additional land and cultivating it to the best of his proved ability. After balancing the pros and cons of the matter, we feel justified in expressing the opinion that where there are sufficient houses and buildings, it is desirable that the occupier of a farm should live on it personally for at least the greater proportion of the year. In many cases the reason why a farm has been let to a non-resident occupier has been the dilapidation of the farmhouse or other buildings owing to the lack of capital to keep them up. If our recommen- dations as to the provision of financial assistance for this purpose are adopted, they should tend to check any great increase in the number of led farms. Records. It is desirable that the system of obtaining a record of a holding at the beginning of a tenancy, as provided for in section 37 of the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act, 1928, should be more widely adopted. Small Holdings. We are entirely sympathetic to the existence of small holdings, but, having regard to our terms of reference, we are not prepared to advocate the further extension of land settlement until careful economic enquiry has been made into the results obtained on existing small holdings. Small holdings, we recognise, provide the most appropriate “‘ladder’’ for the advancement of farm workers, and as the experienced land worker will, in general, make the most successful small holder, we think that every means should be taken of providing him with those opportunities to which his character, skill, and industry so well entitle him. It has been represented to us that among the reasons for which farm workers have hitherto been less eager than they might to participate in land settlement schemes have been the sizes of the holdings available, and uncertainty as to their locality, their rent and the charges for buildings. It has been urged that, Save in exceptionally favoured situations, a small holding, which is intended to provide full-time employment for the holder, should be of about 50 acres of good, arable land or up to 100 acres in the case of inferior land and that the applicant, before committing 29 himself, should know not only the exact situation of the holding but also the precise amount of the liabilities attached to it. We commend these views to the consideration of those responsible for the administration of land settlement. We would add that, in the interests of the farm workers, and for social reasons, we would regret any reduction in the number of existing small holdings and we trust that our recommendations relating to housing, farm equipment, etc., may tend to prevent the lapsing of such holdings. TAXATION AND RATING. We are impressed by the fact that the existing burdens on agricultural land constitute in effect a heavy tax on home-grown food. This fundamental point is often overlooked. Whilst there is a widespread demand throughout the country that the food of the people should not be taxed, enormous burdens, both Imperial and local, are placed on the producers of food at home, burdens from which the foreign producer is exempt. As so large a proportion of our food is imported, the prices of our home products are determined, or largely influenced, by “ world ”’ prices. Hence it follows that only rarely and to a limited extent can these burdens be passed on, as are most other taxes on commodities, to the consumer. The industry has to bear practically the whole of them. In our view these burdens bear very heavily on agriculture and have a detrimental effect on the maintenance of the fertility of the soil and on the food production of the country. It is with this general position in view that we have come to the conclusions stated in the following paragraphs. Taxation. Whilst the institution of the “‘ Maintenance Claim ”’ in connection with the assessment of heritable property has un- doubtedly afforded owners of agricultural land in recent years a substantial measure of relief from Imperial taxation, we consider it desirable and equitable that a more liberal interpretation should be given by inspectors of taxes to what can properly be allowed as maintenance expenditure. In particular, it is reeommended:— (1) that all expenditure on farm buildings and on permanent farm equipment, such as drainage, water supplies, roads, dykes, fences, etc., and on the housing of agricultural workers, should be allowed in the maintenance claim in so far as no additional rent or annual return directly attributable to that expenditure is received by the owner. In other words the owner should have to pay taxes only on the actual income, or profit, which he gets and not on a fictitious, or statutory, income, which he does not receive ; | (2) that where an owner can show that he has incurred ex- penditure in exterminating, or reducing the number of rabbits and vermin (such as rats and moles) on his land it should be permissible for him to include the net cost in his maintenance claim ; 30: (3) that where a proprietor has incurred expenditure on the eradication of bracken, such expenditure should also be allowed in his maintenance claim. We are agreed that Death Duties on the high scale introduced by recent Finance Acts, which are to be still further increased in the case of moderately sized estates by the present budget, not only press with special severity upon the owners of agricultural land, but indirectly have a very prejudicial effect on the agri- cultural industry by crippling the resources of the owner if the property is reta ned, or by causing undue disturbance of tenants if the property is realised. The subject of death duties is too large a one to deal with in this report, but we wish to record our opinion as to the effect of these duties on agriculture. Rating. Pending the passing of any comprehensive legislation to deal with the whole question of rating, the relief given to agriculture by the Agricultural Rates Acts of 1896 and 1923 should be continued. In this connection attention is drawn to the fact that, whilst under the English Act of 1896 the whole benefit went to agriculture, under the corresponding Scottish Acts a sum of about £100,000 was devoted to non-agricultural purposes. It is recommended that, as in the case of County assessments, Parish rates should be levied on the gross valuation without deductions. This recommendation is of special importance with reference to the present Education Rate which, although allocated on the gross valuation, is levied on the net valuation. This arrangement, introduced by the Act of 1918, is not only illogical and without justification, but presses with undue severity on agricultural subjects in many districts. In this connection, we direct special attention to Section 117, Sub-section (4) of the Report of the Departmental Committee on Local Taxation in Scotland, 1922.* This Sub-section read as follows:— “That Section 37 of the Poor Law (Scotland) Act, 1845, “should be repealed and all rating placed on the gross valu- “ation. Failing this, that the deductions permissible to. “ Parish Councils under that section be fixed on a uniform. “scale by a central authority.”’ Rating of Agricultural Land in Burghs. It has been pointed out to us that agricultural land in burghs, which is rated under the Burgh Police (Scotland) Act, 1892, has not received a measure of relief corresponding to that afforded to other agricultural land under the Agricultural Rates Act, 1923. Roads. We are of opinion that more liberal assistance should be provided by the State for the upkeep of roads in general. We recommend in particular that, in order to provide those transport facilities on which the cultivation of the land largely depends and especially to stimulate production in outlying districts, the * Cmd. 1674. 31 Ministry of Transport should make grants for the maintenance of those unclassified roads which carry a large amount of non- local traffic. Simplification of Collection. There has been a universal expression of opinion in agricultural circles that the collection of Rates under the Agricultural Rates Act, 1923, requires simplification. It is practicable and highly desirable that a form of Assessment Notice should be devised, which, whilst it maintains the principle long followed in Scotland that rates should be levied half on owner and half on occupier, allows of the collection direct from the owner of that share of the rates which, under the above-mentioned Act, is recoverable by the tenant from his landlord. Rating of Grass Parks. We draw attention to the recent decision of the Valuation Appeal Court in the case of the Assessor of Aberdeen v. Cordiner which related to the assessment of grass parks let by the owner for seasonal grazing. The Appeal Court (Lord Sands dissenting) refused to allow the owner to deduct from the gross rent the cost of seeds and manures. In our view a general application of the decision will certainly tend to reduce expenditure on the upkeep of such land and consequently to diminish its fertility. It is therefore recommended that the law should be amended to the effect that the cost of artificial manures and all cost of upkeep should be allowed as a deduction before arriving at the assessable value of such land. We consider further that rates should not be leviable on the value of the grass crop as distinct from the value of the land merely because the land is in the eccupation of the landlord. General. With regard to the relation between Imperial and local taxation, we are in agreement with, and desire to emphasise, the views on this subject expressed by the Departmental Committee mentioned above. These views cannot be summarised more effectively than in the words of the concluding recommendation of the Report which reads as follows:— ‘As our fundamental conclusion we express the opinion that ‘the existing system of rating is over-burdened and near the ‘breaking point, and that rigid economy is called for, not only ‘‘as a measure of financial justice, but to avoid the social catas- ‘“trophe which is inevitable if new enterprise in house-building, ‘agriculture, and industry continues to be checked by the undue “use of a system of local taxation which relies on rates on land ‘and buildings as its sole fiscal expedient.” ALLOTMENTS.. In dealing with this subject we have had the advantage of having before us the views of the Scottish Union of Allotment Holders, which we have carefully considered. While the allot- ment movement is worthy of support on several grounds, it is 32 : sufficient for us to say, having regard to our terms of reference, that we think it should be encouraged as a means of making intensive use of land and increasing the food supply of the country. With regard to the utilisation of the annual sum of £4000 provided under Section 18 (3) of the Land Settlement (Scotland) Act, 1919, for the purpose of “ encouraging and developing the provision of allotments throughout Scotland,’”’ we do not think it advisable that legislation should be introduced, as we under- stand would be necessary, to enable this money to be devoted to assisting local authorities to purchase ground. The amount available does not appear adequate to provide effective assistance on a wide scale, even if it were desirable to do so. Weare prepared, however, to recommend that grants to an amount not exceeding £4000 per annum should be given, at the discretion of the Board of Agriculture for Scotland, for equipping ground for allotments, such equipment to include preparation of ground, fencing, road- making, shelters, tool-houses, drainage, water-supply, etc. Apart from this assistance for equipment we are agreed that allotments should be self-supporting and we would therefore disapprove of any proposal to assess for allotment purposes. We consider it desirable that in Town Planning Schemes provision of ground should be made for allotments. SUMMER TIME. We feel some reluctance in concluding our report with a reference to a subject on which the views of agriculturists have already been so fully and cogently expressed from many quarters. But it is one of such importance and has so direct a bearing on the questions submitted to us in our terms of reference that we cannot refrain from reiterating these views in the strongest possible terms. We appreciate and sympathise with the humane and disinterested motives of those who urge the adoption of summer time for the longest period practicable, but we would appeal to them in turn not to ignore the claims of agriculture to a fair measure of consideration in this matter. These claims are ad- vanced with the unanimous support of all sections engaged in the industry, and for this reason, if for no other, they should not be lightly set aside. Their merits, in our opinion, are indisputable. Summer Time, for any period, cannot but affect agriculture adversely, but we are willing to sacrifice our interests so far as to compromise on a period of four months, covering May, June, July and August. To begin it at Ist April and, even worse, to continue it through the harvest month of September, would weigh the balance heavily against agriculture, and in the later districts of Scotland, where under normal conditions the grain harvest is a difficult and speculative business, would make all the difference between possible success and certain disaster. It would also lead many to give up milk production, already a very burdensome occupation for the farmer and his employees. 33 The detailed reasons for these statements should be sufficiently well known from the many representations that have been put forward by the various agricultural organisations. All we need say is that, if the proposal for a full six months of Summer Time is persisted in, it will go a long way to cancel the beneficial effects which we earnestly hope our recommendations may be the means of bringing to our fundamental national industry. Before closing our Report, we desire to express our cordial appreciation of the able services rendered by Mr. J. M. Caie, who has acted as Secretary throughout. His scientific knowledge of agriculture and his administrative experience and sound judgment have proved of the highest value to us in our discussions and in the preparation of our Report ; and we are much indebted to him for the ability and enthusiasm which he has brought to bear on the work. Our thanks are also due to the Board of Agriculture for Scotland for placing their Conference room at our disposal, and for providing us with adequate, clerical assistance and with any information we required. We are, Dir: Your obedient Servants, JAMES ELDER, Chairman. BUCCERUCH. HARRY ARMOUR. He dSIU MEI slp THOS EDOUGAN:, JAMED-ELEIS: ALEX, FORBES. G. ERSKINE JACKSON. JAMES KEITH. KENNETH MACKENZIE. JOHN MacCAIG. GEORGE McCOMBIE. JOHN STIRLING MAXWELL. JOHN, MILLER. A. W. MONTGOMERIE, JAMES PATON. PEL Ae COLT. MARK SPROT. OD eh ee bee ROBERT S. WANN. DAVID WILSON. J. M. CAIE, Secretary. June, 1925. 34 APPENDIX I. Summary of Recommendations of the Departmental Committee on General Organisation and Finance of Agricultural Education and Research in Scotland .... APPENDIX II. Details of a supplementary voluntary scheme for the eradication of Bovine Tuberculosis APPENDIX. IIT. (A) Summary of Recommendations of the Departmental Committee on Deer Forests .... (B) Summary of Recommendations of the Departmental Committee on Game and Heather Burning (Scotland) PAGE 35 37 39 40 35 APPENDIX I. RECOMMENDATIONS oF THE DEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE, APPOINTED IN FEBRUARY, . 1924, TO CONSIDER AND ADVISE. REGARDING THE GENERAL ORGANISATION AND FINANCE OF AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH IN SCOTLAND. Wit tekiGAKD. tO AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION . The supervision of the Colleges should remain with the Board of Agriculture. . The governing bodies of the Colleges should be reduced to twenty-five members, consisting of representatives of local Education Authorities, agricultural interests, and higher educational institutions, together with certain co-opted members. . Close relations should be maintained between the Colleges and the Universities, including joint contribution to the teaching necessary for degrees in agriculture, and reciprocal representation on the respective Boards of Studies. . In the curricula of study more emphasis should be laid on agricultural economics and farm management. . Each College should endeavour to specialize in the type of agriculture prevalent within its area. . The course of instruction within the Colleges should be altered in such a way as more effectively to meet the needs and to attract the attendance of the ordinary farmer, (1) by substituting for the present three years’ diploma course a shorter and more practical course extending . over not more than two years, (2) by providing short special courses on selected subjects _ appropriate to the types of farming in the areas. . A Standing Committee representative of the Governors and Staffs of the three Colleges should be constituted and shouid meet at regular intervals for the discussion of educational policy, the co-ordination of work, particularly in field experi- ments, and the publication of results. . The Governors should appoint an efficient Committee in each County to supervise the College Extension Work, and should: themselves make a special effort to secure the interest of local agriculturists and Agricultural Associations therein. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19, 36 A special official should be appointed to supervise the whole of the County Extension Work of each College. More effectual means should be taken to test the qualifications of County Organizers, and in particular their qualifications as teachers and practical advisers. The claim of the College Staffs for revision of salaries, and also that of the Extension Staffs for inclusion in a super- annuation scheme, should be favourably considered. For the purpose of co-ordinating the educational work of the College Organizer with the agricultural instruction to be provided by Education Authorities in rural schools and continuation classes, an Advisory Committee should be formed in each county, appointed one half by the College from the Committee referred to in Recommendation 8, and one half by the Education Authority. In considering the schemes now being submitted for Advanced Divisions, the Education Department should see that natural and agricultural science for boys and domestic and rural economy for girls receive their fair share of attention in rural schools, and they should also impress upon rural authorities the necessity for establishing agricultural continuation classes, staffed by appropriately qualified teachers. So far as may be consistent with these objects, it is desirable to foster the rural school, and undesirable to concentrate country children in urban schools. When centres of local agricultural education are established in county areas, it would be desirable to institute in connection therewith short special courses of lectures by members of the College staff. However completely local Education Authorities may assume the duty of providing local agricultural education, the Colleges should maintain their local connection with the agricultural community through the medium of their advisory officers and county organizers. There should be established by way of experiment, in a suitable locality, a residential farm school, on the plain and inexpensive model of such institutions on the Continent. A fixed proportional contribution from other sources should be laid down as the basis on which all state assistance, or at any rate any increase of the present state assistance, is made to the Colleges. As one means to this end, the fees imposed at the various Colleges should be made more commensurate with the cost of instruction provided, and Education Authorities should be careful to see that no young person who is qualified for _ attendance at the Colleges “ shall be debarred therefrom by “reason of the expense involved.”’ 20. Zl, 22. 623. 24. 25. 26. 27 28. 37 The system of detailed examination of the accounts of the Colleges now enforced in addition to prior approval of | estimates and limitation of the total amounts of the ex- penditure, is conducted on unnecessarily strict lines, and'ought | to be relaxed. WITH REGARD TO RESEARCH There is urgent need for an all-round development of agri- cultural research in Scotland. In particular, the Institute for Research in Animal Diseases is very inadequately staffed to deal with numerous and important problems which require investigation, and should be materially strengthened. The Plant Breeding Station is also inadequately staffed and should be more generously treated. The Rowett Research Institute should be provided with -an experimental and demonstration farm. A Research Institute should be established in connection with the Nationai Dairy School at Kilmarnock. The systematic recording and analysis of data necessary for agricultural costings should be resumed and extended. Provision should be made for special research in plant pests and diseases. The possibility of raising special funds for agricultural research should be more fully examined and, in particular, careful consideration should be given to the suggestion for a limited rate on agricultural land. WITH REGARD TO THE VETERINARY COLLEGES 29. 30. The maintenance of two Veterinary Colleges in Scotland is from a purely educational point of view unnecessary, and, in view of the relative circumstances of the two existing Colleges, the grant of state assistance to the Glasgow College should be discontinued. The affiliation of the Royal Dick Veterinary College to the University of Edinburgh is desirable, alike in the interests of the College and the veterinary profession. APPENDIX II. DETAILS OF A SUPPLEMENTARY AND V.OWUN TARY ioCHEME: POR=: THE ERADICATION OF BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS. (a) On deposit of a fee of £1 1/- guaranteeing his good faith in carrying out a scheme for the total eradication of tuberculosis from his herd, the owner of a herd should be entitled to call on 38 the Local Authority to carry out free of charge a regular “yer of tuberculin testing of his herd. (6) The Local Authority in rural areas should be the County Council. (c) The veterinary inspector employed to carry out tests should be the veterinary inspector under the Diseases of Animals Acts (7.€., in Counties the County Council’s inspector). (d) The owner should undertake to do no tuberculin testing of the herd whatsoever, but he should be entitled to give notice to the Local Authority that he is withdrawing an animal from the herd and thereafter to carry out any test that may be required for such purposes as export. (e) All animals undergoing the test should, for the purpose of identification, be legibly tattooed on the ears. (f) All animals over nine months old should be tested by the subcutaneous and ophthalmic tuberculin tests and clinically examined by the veterinary inspector. (g) In herds where more than 20 per cent. re-act, a re-test should be carried out after an interval of three months. (2) In herds where less than 20 per cent. re-act, six-monthly tests should be carried out until no re-actors have been found on two successive tests. (1) When no re-actors have been found on two successive six-monthly tests the Local Authority should grant a certificate to the effect that the herd is certified free from tuberculosis. (7) Thereafter tests should be made annually and the certi- ficate renewed. (k) All animals showing clinical symptoms of tuberculosis should be slaughtered as soon as possible, subject to appeal to the Ministry. Non-clinical re-actors might be isolated if the premises were suitable in the opinion of the Local Authority. (1) Re-actors should be isolated at once and disposed of as soon as practicable. If animals found re-acting were disposed of within 24 hours the certificate of freedom need not be with- drawn. If, however, more than 3 per cent. of re-actors were found the certificate of freedom might be withdrawn and the herd re-tested within six months; and before the certificate was renewed there should be two tests at an interval of six months without a re-actor being found. (m) Calves should be fed only on milk from non-reacting cows and should be moved at birth from contact with re-actors ; thereafter they should be kept isolated from re-acting animals. (7) Animals should be introduced into herds only from other herds that were certified free, but if animals not from a free herd were introduced they should be isolated before coming in contact with the rest of the herd and subjected to a re-test after 30 ee isolation. 39 APPENDIX III. (A). SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS of THE DEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE, APPOINTED IN NOVEMBER, 1919, TO ENQUIRE AND REPORT WITH REGARD TO LANDS IN SCOTLAND USED AS DEPhe FORESTS? 1, Deer forests to be classified as follows, with a view to increasing their production:— Class I—Deer Forests fit for no other Purpose. No inter- ference. Class I].—Deer Forests capable of carrying a Light Summer Stock only. Sport to continue the primary purpose, but a light summer stock of sheep or cattle to be introduced where this can be done without Toss. Class II1I.—Deer Forests capable of carrying a Light Permanent Stock. A light permanent stock of sheep or cattle to be built up, the number being determined by the extent and character of the wintering ground. The head of deer to be proportionately reduced. Class IV.—Deer Forests capable of bearing a Full Permanent Stock of Sheep or Cattle. To be restored to pastoral uses unless no tenant is forthcoming at an economic rent. 2. No compensation to be given for loss of assessable rental where deer forests are restored to pastoral uses. — 3. Deer forests, where suitable, to be selected for land settlement or afforestation schemes in preference to land occupied for pastoral or agricultural uses. 4. The law in regard to march fences to be investigated and, so far as necessary, amended. 5. Deer forests to be assessed for Income Tax Schedule B. on the grazing in place of the sporting value. 6. The period for heather burning in deer forests where grouse are negligible to be extended to May 15th. 7. Where it is proved that no serious efforts are being made to destroy foxes, the Sheriff to be given powers to authorise their destruction. 8. The use of poison for the destruction of foxes and other vermin to be permitted in deer forests under proper precautions. 9. Four gatherings for sheep in deer forests to be made statutory— in June, in August before the 15th, in September after the 20th, and in November. 40 SUGGESTIONS FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION l.. The extension of deer forests to be forbidden by statute, except with special sanction from the Secretary for Scotland, given after enquiry. | 2.. An annual return of the stock of sheep and cattle in each deer forest to be made to the Board of Agriculture. 3. Local committees, with independent chairmen, to classify: the deer forests and determine the stock each should carry, on the lines laid down above. APPENDIX III. (B). SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE ON GAME AND . HEALTHER-BURNING? ~sCO7 EAD) 1. Deer.—That as soon as economic conditions permit, it should . be compulsory for owners of deer forests to fence their forests efficiently, where they adjoin cultivated or grazing land. © 2. That in the meantime it should be legal for the occupier of cultivated land not efficiently fenced against deer, or until such land is efficiently fenced, to kill by any means available deer causing injury to his crops or enclosed meadow. 3. That the Board of Agriculture for Scotland be empowered, where they are satisfied, on the advice of an Agricultural Executive Committee, that damage is anticipated or is being done by red deer, fallow deer, roe deer, or deer of any other species, to an occupier of grazing land, (a) to call upon the proprietor of the land from which such deer come to take such steps as may prevent or abate the nuisance ; and (bd) in the event of his failing to satisfy the Board, to grant authority to the occupier to shoot the deer complained of on the land on which damage is being done. This. authority may be given in advance when damage is anticipated, but is to be exercised only when and where damage is being done. 4. Rabbits and Hares.—That where the Board of Agriculture for Scotland are satisfied on the advice of an Agricultural Executive Committee, that cultivated land or pastoral land is being, or is likely to be, damaged by rabbits or by mountain or blue hares, owing to the failure of an occupier of land to destroy sufficiently the rabbits or mountain hares on the land in his occupation, or to: take other steps for the prevention of such damage, the Board be empowered after giving to the occupier and owner such oppor- tunity of destroying the rabbits or mountain hares or taking such steps as aforesaid, as in the opinion of the Board is reasonable, to authorise in writing any competent person to enter on the land. and kill or take the rabbits or mountain hares thereon, and that the Board be further empowered to recover from the occupier summarily, as a civil debt, the net cost incurred by them in. connection with the action so taken. 4] oS. That new rabbit-warrens should be allowed only on land that appears to the Board of Agriculture for Scotland to. be incapable of more profitable agricultural use, and that all rabbit- warrens should be efficiently fenced. The following recommendations are made with full recognition of the existing common law right to kill foxes, and in addition thereto: — 6.. Foxes.—That if foxes are not included in the term “‘ vermin ”’ in the Protection of Animals (Scotland) Act, 1912, the Board of Agriculture for Scotland be empowered, on the recommendation of an Agricultural Executive Committee, to authorise the use of poison for the destruction of hill foxes. 7. That the Board of Agriculture for Scotland be empowered, where they are satisfied, on the advice of an Agricultural Executive Committee, that damage is being done by foxes, (a) to order the proprietor and the agricultural occupier (if any) of the land on which the foxes habitate to take such steps as will abate the nuisance, and (0d) in the event of the said proprietor and occupier failing to do so, to take such steps at the expense of the proprietor and occupier. 8. That it be made illegal to buy, sell or distribute foxes or fox- cubs except on licence, in writing, from the Board of Agriculture for Scotland. - 9. Game Birds——That the Board of Agriculture for Scotland be empowered, where they are satisfied on the advice of an Agri- cultural Executive Committee, that damage is anticipated, or is being done, by winged game to an occupier of land (a) to call upon the proprietor of the land from which such winged game come to take such steps as may prevent or abate the nuisance ; and (0), in the event of his failing to satisfy the Board, to grant authority to the occupier to shoot the winged game complained of on the land on which damage is being done. This authority may be given in advance, but is to be exercised only when and where damage is being done. 10. That grain-drying racks should be erected where practicable, and that the Agricultural Executive Committees should endeavour to arrange for co-operation in their erection. 11. That in the interests of forestry the Board of Agriculture for Scotland be empowered, where they are satisfied that Black Game are damaging plantations of young conifers, to grant authority to the owner of such young trees to kill Black Game in such plantations at any time. 12. Other Birds —That where Wild Duck are hand-reared, the Board of Agriculture for Scotland should have the powers suggested as regards Winged Game. 42 13.. That the Board of Agriculture for Scotland, through the medium of the Agricultural Executive Committees, should take Steps to secure organised effort by owners and occupiers of land to keep down Wood-pigeons, Sparrows, Rooks, Crows, Herring Gulls, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and Greater Black-backed Gulls. 14.. That the Secretary for Scotland be empowered to grant licences to owners or occupiers of land who are suffering damage from Ravens or Golden Eagles to kill such birds on their land ; provided always that expert ornithological advice has been obtained that the destruction of the birds in question will not jeopardise the status of the species as regards Scotland. 15. Heather-Burning.—That the Board of Agriculture for Scot- land, as being the appropriate body to exercise such control over heather-burning as may be necessary in the public interest, should instruct the Agricultural Executive Committees to take steps forthwith to ascertain the arrangements in existence with regard to heather-burning on each estate in their respective areas. Where these arrangements appear to be unsatisfactory the Agricultural Executive Committee should endeavour, by bringing together the proprietor and tenant or tenants concerned, to obtain by voluntary agreement the adoption of a scheme that will in the Committee’s view adequately secure the interests of all concerned. Failing such agreement, recourse should be had | to compulsory power vested in the Board of Agriculture for Scotland. Where a scheme, voluntary or compulsory, is not carried out, the aggrieved party should have the right of appeal to the Agricultural Executive Committee, who shall report the matter to the Board. If the Board have not already powers as the ultimate authority to insist (1) on an adequate scheme of burning being arranged, and (2) on this scheme being carried out so far as conditions permit, these powers should be given them by legislation. 16. That the period within which muirburn may be made should extend from Ist October to 15th April in the following year ; that the proprietor of any moorland should be entitled, if he thinks fit, to make muirburn up to 25th April, or to give per- mission to the grazing tenant to do so; and that, where a grazing tenant to whom the proprietor has transferred the responsibility has failed to obtain an extension from the proprietor, the Board of Agriculture for Scotland should be empowered to grant to the grazing tenant a permit to make muirburn up to that date. This permit may be asked for in advance, but it should be granted by the Board only if they are satisfied, after a report by the Agricultural Executive Committee, that it is warranted owing to the condition or the situation of the moor. 17. That any extension beyond 15th April granted by a pro- prietor to a grazing tenant should be recorded with the Agricultural Executive Committee. (26/6/25) (244) Wt. 7168/26 250 10/25 T. P. Ltd. 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