Rural Reconstruction Association facts for kids
The Rural Reconstruction Association (RRA) was a British group started in 1926. It aimed to make farming better and stronger in Britain. Montague Fordham was a key leader, working as the Council Secretary for 20 years.
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Helping British Farming Grow
The RRA had big ideas about how to improve farming in Britain. They wanted to bring back life to the countryside and spread out the population more evenly across the country.
Key Goals of the RRA
The RRA believed that farming and industry should work together. They thought that if Britain relied too much on factories, it would hurt both parts of the economy. Their main goals included:
- Making sure prices for farm products were fair and consistent.
- Setting standards for how farm products were sorted and sold.
- Controlling how many goods were brought into the country from other places.
- Encouraging a better balance between farming and manufacturing.
Laws That Supported RRA Ideas
Some new laws passed in the 1930s seemed to agree with the RRA's ideas. These laws helped protect British farmers by making it harder for cheap foreign goods to compete.
- The Agricultural Marketing Act 1931
- The Wheat Act 1932
- The Agricultural Marketing Act 1933
The RRA saw these laws as proof that their plans for farming were good for the country.
Bringing Back Old Ideas
In 1936, the RRA wrote a document called The Revival of Agriculture. In it, they suggested that modern money systems were not working well. They looked back to the time of Queen Elizabeth I, when they felt that money people helped those who made things, instead of controlling them.
They thought that if Britain controlled imports, local farm products would be worth more. This would make banks more willing to lend money to farmers. They also believed that a strong farming sector would help people be healthier by providing fresh, natural food.
Important People and Connections
In the 1940s, the RRA worked closely with another group called the Economic Reform Club and Institute (ECRI). Together, they published a journal about the rural economy. Jorian Jenks edited this journal for many years. He had strong political views and was involved with other political groups.
The RRA also had support from some well-known British figures. Sir George Stapledon and Lord Lymington were on its board. Lord O'Hagan even served as the group's President for a time.
