§ 2. £100,000 (Supplementary), Board of Agriculture and Fisheries.
MR. STANLEY WILSON (Yorkshire, E.R., Holderness)said he had one or two important questions to put to the representative of the Board of Agriculture, and he wished to know if he would be in order in raising the question of the salaries of agents for Crown lands. He wished 1490 to know first of all whether new agents had not been appointed for Crown lands in the firm of J. Carter, Jonas & Co., and if so when were they appointed.
§ THE TREASURER OF THE HOUSEHOLD (Sir EDWARD STRACHEY, Somersetshire, S.)said the salaries of agents for Crown lands did not come under this Vote, which consisted of items to cover the expense of additional work which had been thrown upon his Department by three Acts which were passed last session.
MR. STANLEY WILSONcontended that under the heading of salaries and wages he would be in order in raising this question of the agent for Crown lands.
THE CHAIRMANIf the responsible Minister says that the salaries of the gentlemen in question do not come in this Estimate it is clear that the matter cannot now be discussed.
§ SIR E. STRACHEYThis only applies-to new work.
MR. STANLEY WILSONsaid that that raised an entirely new point. Probably the increase was due to the fact that a change in the Crown agent had taken place. He thought he was entitled to raise the question.
THE CHAIRMANIf the hon. Member is correct in his contention, he is perfectly in order in raising it, but I understand that the Minister in charge denies that.
MR. STANLEY WILSONasked on, what Estimate the question could be raised if it was not in order to raise it now.
THE CHAIRMANThe hon. Member can only raise questions which properly come under this supplementary charge. He is not entitled to raise the question of the salary of an official who was appointed under the Estimate passed last session.
THE CHAIRMANThe hon. Member surely understands that the salary was passed last session, and if the official has been changed that has nothing to do with the Supplementary Estimate.
MR. STANLEY WILSONsaid that there was an increase of £950 shown by the Supplementary Estimate, and he contended that he was in order in raising any question of wages on this particular Vote.
§ MR. ASQUITHI am informed that not a single penny will go to the gentleman against whose appointment the hon. Member desires to protest. That being so, it is clearly out of order to discuss the matter.
MR. STANLEY WILSONasked the hon. Member for South Somersetshire to state every single item included in the £950.
§ SIR E. STRACHEYThe salaries asked for are for the Small Holdings Commissioners and inspectors, and for inspectors under the Butter and Margarine and the Destructive Insects and Pests Acts of last session, which Acts were not in force when the Estimates of the Board of Agriculture for the present financial year were voted.
Vote agreed to.
§ 3. £20 (Supplementary), The Mint, including Coinage.