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of these officers to advise producers as to the types of goods to produce, the most favourable markets to which goods should be sent, and the best methods of preparing their produce for market. It should be a further duty of these officers to assist and advise producers as to organisation for marketing purposes in districts where such assistance is not otherwise procurable.

96. Valuable work is being undertaken by Government Departments in various countries, notably in the United States of America, where the Department of Agriculture has been entrusted with the study of the problems not only of marketing but also of distribution. A Bureau of Farm Economics has been established which consolidates into one group the divisions of the Department dealing with the costs of producton, the adjustment of production to market conditions, marketing and distribution including co-operation, and the statistics of production, distribution and consumption. This reorganisation has been effected to meet the growing demand of farmers and those dealing in farm-products for world-wide surveys and studies of all the economic factors influencing prices and the movements of products from producer to consumer. The methods adopted in other countries, and especially in the United States, should be closely studied by those responsible for similar work in this country.

97. So far as this country is concerned, we are convinced that it is in the national interest that the Departments of Agriculture should devote far more attention to marketing and to commercial problems than has hitherto been the case. Not the least important of their duties should be to keep a close watch on the whole system of marketing and distribution of agricultural produce, while the vast amount of material which we have accumulated and published in the course of our enquiry should be carefully collated and kept up to date.

98. There is necessarily some diversion of interests between various Government Departments in this matter. Questions of general commercial policy and administration, for example, concern the Board of Trade; and those of public health and local government, as also to a certain extent the control of markets, the Ministry of Health. The exercise by such Departments of their normal functions need not, in our view, be inconsistent with the accumulation by the Departments of Agriculture of information regarding the actual distribution as well as the marketing of agricultural produce, and with continued investigation by the Departments of Agriculture into the mechanics of the marketing and distributive systems and into the economic principles involved. Local Authorities should assist in this work by collecting and furnishing statistics of prices and such other information of a local character as may be necessary. Representative organisations of traders should also be invited to collaborate by supplying information regarding changes in handling and distributive costs.

99. We understand that where the duties of other Departments bring them into touch with agricultural interests, the Departments of Agriculture are at present consulted in order that no action may be taken without due consideration being given to its possible effect upon the Agricultural industry. We attach a good deal of importance to this point. Indeed, some instances have come to our notice in which sufficient weight does not seem to have been given in Departmental Regulations to their possible effect on the production, distribution, or marketing of home produce.

100. During the course of our enquiry we have been struck by the lack of readily available information regarding the markets of the country. This appears to be due to the fact that there is no general body of legislation on the subject; many markets owe their origin to early charters, others are controlled by Local Authorities under private Acts of Parliament, while others have been established under the general powers of the Public Health and other Acts. As a result, there is no Government Department which is concerned to consider the relation of local markets to the food supply of the country, their influence on prices, or their general suitability from the point of view either of the consumer or the producer. The Ministry of Health in England and Wales and the Department of Health in Scotland only come into the picture, we understand, in connection with the powers of Local Authorities (mainly in regard to sanitation and finance) as prescribed by certain Acts of Parliament, and cannot deal in any way with the wider aspect of the question to which we have referred above. As a preliminary step to the further consideration of this question, we think it desirable that the Government Departments concerned should collect and publish information as to the control and ownership of markets, and any relative information likely to be useful.

101. We are of opinion that continued investigation and supervision by the Departments of Agriculture should afford effective safeguards and tend to the restoration of confidence among consumers generally. The public rightly may be assumed to feel the need for some authoritative body to which it can look for information relating to the costs incurred and the profits realised in the distribution of food. Only by the widest publication of the essential facts can any uneasiness that may arise in future be either justified or allayed, and in fulfilling this function the Departments of Agriculture should receive the hearty co-operation of other Departments of State, as well as of the various trading organisations concerned.

102. In conclusion, we desire to record our high appreciation of the capacity and energy with which our Secretary, Mr. A. W. Street, has carried out his duties in connection with the general business of our enquiry and the drafting of our reports.

103. We are also much indebted to our Assistant Secretary, Mr. F. Grant, whose assistance, particularly in the collection and arrangement of statistical matter, has been of much value.

We have the honour to be, Sir,

Your obedient Servants,

LINLITHGOW, Chairman.

PERCY HURD, Vice-Chairman.

BASIL E. MAYHEW.

ARTHUR W. ASHBY.

ERNEST R. DEBENHAM.

CHARLES DOUGLAS.

ROWLAND R. ROBBINS.

R. J. THOMPSON.

MARGARET WINTRINGHAM.

A. W. STREET, Secretary.

F. GRANT, Assistant Secretary.

22nd November, 1923.

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1924.

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