My dear Prime Minister,

There is really little occasion for a letter this mail, falling as
it does between the Christmas and New Year Holidays.

I think, however, you would be interested to see the enclosed
picture page from today's 'Times' as it will give you a very good
impression of the sort of weather that the south of England is
having at the present time. You will notice that the pictures of
the really heavy snow drifts are all within 30 miles of London.

Since the snowstorm ceased on Monday night, we have had continual
frost with a keen north cast wind rising at times to gale force,
so that it has been far from pleasant.

AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS

By the incoming mail I received letters from Mr. Paterson [1], Dr.

Rivett [2] and Professor Copland [3], commenting on the report of
my Empire Marketing Board Committee on Agricultural Economics. I
was very pleased to find how much interest they displayed in the
subject and I shall hope to hear from you in the course of the
next two or three weeks as to your views thereon. [4]

DEVELOPMENT & MIGRATION COMMISSION'S REPORT [5]

This mail brought a copy of the first Annual Report of the
Development & Migration Commission and the first fairly long
personal letter from Gepp [6] that I have received during the
twelve months. I have read the report with great interest. The
programme of work of the Commission during the first year of its
life is quite impressive but perhaps hardly shows the way in which
the Commission is tackling its work. One realises that the burden
upon Gepp is immense and it is probably well nigh impossible for
him to find time to write a constructive report which would show
the people in this country the way in which the Commission is
commencing systematically to tackle problems of development. [7]

I was very pleased to find in Gepp's letter a promise of a regular
monthly report for my information on the Commission's activities.

I hope, in due time, to commence to receive such report.

MR. JULIUS [8]

Julius is back in town for the final three days before sailing for
America. He and I are very busy going through a number of
outstanding points and also in preparing a memorandum on
Standardization and Simplified Practice for the President of the
Board of Trade.

I shall regret Julius's departure but I expect you feel it
desirable that he should get back as the C.C.S.I.R. has a very
large number of problems confronting it.

Yours sincerely,
F. L. MCDOUGALL