The farmers who cannot now sell their wheat except at
a loss have a real grievance against the Government. On March 11th, 1920, Mr. Lloyd George announced that the price of sound British milling wheat should be the monthly average c.i.f. of imported wheat up to a maximum of 95s. per quarter. The price of imported wheat oil. was then much above 95s.,and the farmers, naturally thinking that they could sell at 95s., increased their wheat crop accordingly. Unfortunately, the Wheat Commission and the Ministry of Food prevented the mills—which were, of course, controlled by the Government—from buying British wheat. The Wheat Commission had bought much wheat abroad and it had to work off its stook. Thus the British farmer could not sell his wheat at home and he was not allowed to sell it abroad. Now that he is allowed to sell there has been a slump in the price. There may have been no verbal breach of a pledge given by the Government, but the whole spirit of the Govern- ment's declared intention of making amble farming worth while has been violated.
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