4 restrict the supply of the tariffed commodities on the open market and to encourage their surreptitious sale at prices in excess of the tariff. The formation of local committees to administer the tariff likewise disappointed expectations. The fact is, that unless public spirit and the sentiment of co-operation are strongly developed in a country as well as political organisation and education, it is extremely difficult by means of regulations to interfere effectively with the natural play of economic forces. The Government has been reduced for the present to doing what it can to secure that, at any rate, certain articles shall be supplied at a reasonably cheap rate. It has devoted its attention chiefly to wheat and fl.our as being the staple food consumed by all inhabitants and as a larger proportion of their total expenditure by the poorer classes in the towns, who are the chief sufferers from the high prices. The Supplies Control Board have purchased quantities of wheat and maize sufficient to keep the countiy supplied until next cereal harvest, and these are being sold, at heavy cost to the Government, at a price which constitutes a substantial benefit to the consumer. It may be mentioned incidentally that it has only been possible to obtain this wheat through the intervention of the British Government, the necessary freight not being otherwise obtainable._ Further, large purchases are being arranged with a view to the autumn requirements. The policy adopted has been justified in so far as it has contributed to the marked fall recently recorded in the price of locally-produced cereals, for which excessive prices were being demanded. A certain number of co-operative and philanthropic societies, having as their object the supply of essential commodities at a reasonable price, have recently come into existence and, wherever they appear to be conducted on sound lines, will receive the countenance and support of the Government.

“ But while the present policy of the Government is limited to the measures above indicated, it may be useful to bear in mind that the speculative purchase of the necessaries of life with a view to their resale at an excessive profit may, under martial law, prove an unprofitable enterprise to 'mose who undertake it. The Government, while reluctant to use any arbitrary powers, will not hesitate, if circumstances warrant it, to take suitable measures for the protection of the community.

“ The estimated total quantity of wheat required to be imported during 1920 for consumption in Egypt is estimated at no less than 180,000 tons, and the sale of this imported wheat at about the present price will probably involve a loss to the Government of about £E. 2,000,000. It is unquestionable that to allow wheat to be sold at the price which it would reach but for Government intervention would involve a fresh addition to the cost of living which would bear with special severity on the poorer inhabitants of the towns, precisely the class that has benefited least from the prevailing agricultural prosperity. Although it may not be practicable to maintain indefinitely an artificially low price for wheat and wheaten flour, it appeared to the Government right and just to do something to redress the hardship from which in present conditions the consumer suffers and to place the burden where it can best be borne, viz., on the producer of cotton. The proposed cotton tax represents about 2 per cent, on the price of a commodity whicli has increased in price by some 500 per cent, since 1913, and cannot in fairness be called a heavy tax. It is nevertheless open to certain technical objections, which would have weight if the rate of the tax were not so low as to be almost negligible. It should be borne in mind that the land tax, which was designed to represent about one-quarter of the rental value of land, now falls very far short of this rate.

“ It has been suggested that the deficiency of wheat could be remedied, without any increase of the area sown therewith, by improved cultivation and manuring. It certainly appears that the average yield per feddan is somewhat low. Of recent years it has varied as follows:— 191S. 1914. 1915. 1916. 1917.

Average yield per feddan .. Ardebs 5-25 4*75 4-63 4-75 O-03 “ This is little more than equivalent to 3 quarters per acre. The poor return is said to arise from the following principal causes :— 0 House of Commons Parliamentary Papers Online. Copyright (c) 2006 ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved.