5. I turn now to the argument advanced in the papers under reference that since the increase of price in relation to increased costs has been higher in the case of oats, eggs and fat cattle than in the case of milk, sugar beet and potatoes, the present prices will hamper the fulfilment of the Government's food policy. This argument entirely ignores the situation in agriculture before the war. At that time milk production was one of the few profitable and flourishing branches of agriculture. Over a number of years there had been a steady tendency for farmers who had suitable land, or who had or who could afford to erect the necessary buildings, water supplies, etc.