MR. BASSsaid, he wished to ask the Vice-President of the Board of Trade, When the Agricultural Statistics will be ready, and if a comparison with last year's statistics can be presented?
§ MR. STEPHEN CAVE, in reply, said, he was informed by the Statistical Department that the time of publication of the Agricultural Returns could not be stated at present, but that every endeavour would be made to get them out as soon as possible. It was intended to give in the Returns a comparison of information obtained in the past and in the present year. He might take this opportunity of answering a question of the hon. Member for East Norfolk (Mr. Read). In the first instance, it was intended, in consequence of the opposition raised, to publish only the acreage Returns; but the occurrence of the cattle plague raised a desire for the live stock Returns, which were then collected and issued. This reason did not of course apply to horses. It might be hoped that when 1105 the advantage of these Returns was more fully recognized they would be made more complete.