amounts of nutrients recommended by the National Research Council--especially of calcium and vitamins A and C.

Nongovernment groups can help families understand the importance of proper diet to health, what constitutes a good diet, and how to apply nutritional knowledge to practical problems of food production and use.

They can stimulate research and help interpret research-based principles and knowledge so that families and communities can make decisions that will lead to effective use of funds, time and other resources to promote good health.

They can lend support to more effective group effort by helping to mobilize public opinion, assisting in the understanding and analysis of needs, encouraging family and community planning and action, and promoting more effective use of available health resources.

Improved communication within and between groups will benefit all programs directed to promotion of improved health and nutrition among rural people.

Nongovernment agencies can both initiate and support informational and educational programs--formal and informal--to spread knowledge, foster understanding and support coordinated effort to achieve health goals.

ROUND TABLE DISCUSSIONS

During luncheon and dinner, participants in the conference were invited to discuss certain questions pertinent to the program. Each group of discussants (8 to 10 people at a table) were then asked to record views expressed and their consensus, if any. Notes taken during these table discussions have been summarized and included in the proceedings as follows in order to preserve important observations made by participants.

TABLE DISCUSSION I

Question--How important is industry dispersal for defense?

Dispersal of industry for defense is important. Of what degree of importance? "Considerable", said some. "Vital", "paramount", said others. The reason? "To reduce distress and maintain productive capacity in case of attack." Many of the discussants qualified their answers or indicated that other than defense advantages must be considered. Some of the comments:

"Dispersal is not always practical because of economic considera

tions."

"Most defense industries involve large plants, with relatively few small suppliers.

11

"There is a better chance of dispersing small, diversified industries rather than large basic industries."

"Dispersal is desirable if it can be done in such a way that it will be economically efficient."

"When industry moves, recognition must be given to the population left and the problems created for them as well as the problems to be solved in the new community."

"For economic reasons, dispersal for defense will probably not be carried out until a threat of attack on this country."

"A national policy of dispersal would set the stage for a real political battle."

"Dispersal is vital as a means of uplifting the standard of living

generally."

Question--What factors will cause increased dispersal of industry?

There are two main factors leading to dispersal: Those which involve response to impersonal economic forces and those that result from deliberate initiative or encouragement.

Impersonal factors:

1. Increased urban congestion and resulting "spill-over" into

countryside.

2. Better availability, productivity and tractability of rural labor. 3. Lower land costs and better availability of sites.

4. Need for adequate water supply and waste disposal.

5. Desire to locate near sources of raw material.

6. Growth of market outlets in former low income areas.

7. Favorable attitude towards business climate and living conditions of small communities.

Deliberate policies:

1. Local economic appraisal followed by publicity of available
resources--human and natural.

2. Tax advantages.

3. Community assistance in obtaining or constructing adequate industrial facilities.

4. Adequate vocational education facilities.

5. Provision of needed power and water supply.

6. Industrial promotion by State government and stable State tax
laws.

7. Policies encouraging industrial dispersal by Federal government.

Most of the discussants also mentioned the necessity of good transportation facilities.

Question--What kind of rural America do you visualize for the future?

Since this question invites speculation, answers are varied. However, certain themes predominate.

1. Higher rural level of living; rural-urban differences greatly
diminishing.

2. Better rural education.

3. Fewer and larger commercial farms.

4. More specialized farming, with an increase in vertically integated organization.

5. More part-time farming combined with off-farm work.

6. More nonfarm residents in rural areas.

7. Greater use of rural areas for recreation.

One interesting comment:

"Rural America will be a combination of (1) fewer, bigger, more prosperous, better educated commercial family farmers, (2) a large continuing group of people earning two incomes (farm and town), (3) country towns which, socially, will extend beyong the town boundary lines. The successful country community of the future will be a social and economic unit of farm and town people, planning and executing plans together. Farming itself will become more specialized, will require more capital and better

business management. Farmers will market more and more things through
organized farmer groups of one kind or another."

TABLE DISCUSSION II

Question--How can the name "Rural Development Program" be improved?

About half the discussants thought the present name to be the most appropriate, or at least that no change should be attempted at this time. Typical comments were:

"The group believes the name is satisfactory."
"Very good as it is."

"We feel that usage has established this title."

Others had a variety of new titles to suggest:

Rural Resource Development (Program)

Rural Community Improvement

Balanced Community Development

Rural Opportunity

Cooperative Rural-Urban Resources Development

Area Resource Development

Community Development

Town-County Development

Question--Should this effort continue to be concentrated in areas of low in

come?

There was near unanimous agreement that the program should continue to be concentrated in low income areas, although adoption of program objectives and techniques by interested areas of higher income was by no means ruled out. However, there was general agreement that it was important to concentrate limited available government funds in the low income pilot counties rather than spread them too thin. Several discussants said the task cannot be accomplished overnight in areas where work is now under way. Selected comments in response to the question:

"Continue present emphasis until further success is attained, but do not preclude counties wishing to venture out and ready to move." "Extra funds should be concentrated in low income areas, the technique to be used in other areas."

"Continue to concentrate in low income areas, but more care should be taken in choosing areas that have leadership potential."

"Low income areas still need most effort. Education program for other areas for self-help or to help people take advantage of job opportunities."

"Concentrate on low income areas in view of limited funds. Ideally should be extended to all rural areas."

One round table group said that the program should be expanded "on a rural-urban cooperative basis."

Question--There are both county and trade area programs. Which are preferable?

Of the table discussion groups expressing a preference, 7 favored trade areas and 2 favored counties. Eleven groups, however, believed that both approaches should continue to be used, supporting this view with the statement that the relative advantages of the two approaches differ according to the local situation and that State and local people should have the right to decide which to use in each case.

Those favoring a trade area approach said:

"Problems don't stop at the county line."

"Some counties lack towns of 5000 or more, thus the trade area is preferable."

"Better chance for business leadership to participate in a trade area program.

A discussant favoring the county approach said, "It is more practical from an organizational standpoint."

County advantages: 1. Can play on county pride. 2. Ease of organization and supervision.

Trade area advantages: 1. Fits market pattern. 2. Has potential of doing more because of greater personnel involved.

"Industry development must be carried forward on a trade area basis. However, individual contacts with farmers can be on a county basis," was one comment.

TABLE DISCUSSION III

Question--Is the present State and county or trade area committee system the best approach?

Although, few commented, there seemed to be agreement that the present committee system is the best approach or that no better approach is presently known.

One group said more representation on the overall county or area committee was needed from local communities.

Another group urged that the committee system have a broad base of representation that a "non-agency" person be chairman.