Barrowsgate despairs at the constant pessimism shown by farmers. The Walter Elliot referred to in this Bittie was a Scottish politician who, at the time of the article, was Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. He was credited with introducing the Agricultural Marketing Act which sought to protect food producers from going bankrupt amidst surpluses and collapsing prices and the introduction of free milk for school children (which benefitted milk producers). He also had a hand in the formation of the National Housing Company which built prefabricated steel-based “Weir Houses“. After retiring from farming, Barrowsgate was later to live in one of these houses.