§ MR. PALKsaid, he would beg to ask 1239 the right hon. Gentleman the President of the Board of Trade, whether any steps had been or were about to be taken, to obtain statistical information with reference to agricultural produce?
§ MR. CARDWELLSir, in reply to the question of the hon. Gentleman, I beg to state that with respect to three counties in Scotland, a full return was laid before the House last Session; and it appears that there was not a single case of omission, and only three cases of refusal to give the information asked—a result which I consider highly creditable to the agriculturists of those counties. With respect to Norfolk and Hampshire, I have received within the last few days the report of Sir John Walsham and Mr. Hawley, who have been charged with the inquiry in those counties, and I am happy to inform the House that there is only an omission of 3 per cent upon the whole return. I think that for a first experiment this will be felt to be highly satisfactory. The whole cost has been for Norfolk and Hampshire, 850l.; and for the three Scotch counties, 667l. What we have obtained is an accurate return of the acreage and of the quantity of stock; and in the case of Scotland there was added a voluntary estimate of the produce. I have stated that the Scotch return has been already laid upon the table, in answer to a Resolution of the House, and the papers with respect to England will shortly be produced. I think that to Mr. Hall Maxwell, the Secretary of the Highland Society, and to Sir John Walsham and Mr. Hawley, the thanks of the farming interest are due for the ability and success with which these inquiries are conducted.