§ MR. EDWARD STRACHEY (Somerset, S.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of a resolution passed last year by the Council of the Central Chamber of Agriculture approving of weather forecasts, these forecasts can be issued this year during the hay and corn harvests?
§ *THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. WALTER LONG,) Liverpool, West DerbyI have given some attention to this matter, and I am disposed to agree with the conclusion at which my predecessor arrived, viz., that it is very doubtful whether the assistance rendered to agriculturists by the exhibition of the weather forecasts is such as to justify me in again approaching the Treasury on the subject. The expenditure involved is estimated at from £5,000 to £6,000, and it is obvious that before my right hon. Friend would be willing to place this sum at my disposal, it must be clearly established that a proportionate advantage to agriculturists would result.