HC Deb 17 July 1912 vol 41 cc385-6
85. Captain GILMOUR

asked the Secretary for Scotland if the representatives of the Scottish Board of Agriculture, at the Highland Society Show at Cupar, made no provision for distributing information to agriculturists on any other subject but that of small holdings, as contained in leaflets Nos. 1, 2, and 3; if it is the intention of the Scottish Board of Agriculture to confine their operations solely to the creation of small holdings, to the exclusion of the general and wider interests of agriculture in Scotland; and, if not, what reasons can be given for the conduct of the Scottish Board?

The SECRETARY for SCOTLAND (Mr. McKinnon Wood)

The answer to the first part of the hon. Member's question is in the affirmative. There is no ground whatever for the suggestion in the second part of the question. As to the last part of the question, the reason is that the Board, very properly in my opinion, thought the circulation of leaflets explanatory of the provisions of the Small Landholders Act which has recently come into force to be urgently necessary.

Captain GILMOUR

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the representative of the Scottish Board of Agriculture at the Show had no further information of any sort or kind to give agriculturists?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

I am not aware that there was any necessity for leaflets or circulars on any other subjects.

Captain GILMOUR

Is it not a fact that on previous occasions the Board of Agriculture have always had leaflets and information on all kinds of other subjects?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

I should like to point out to the hon. Member, what he is very well aware of, that the Scottish Board of Agriculture only came into existence on 1st April, and that they have a new Act to administer, with which it is necessary for them to make other people familiar; therefore they have not had time to prepare any leaflets or any other subjects.

Captain GILMOUR

Would it not have been desirable and possible for the Scottish Board of Agriculture to have got leaflets from the Board of Agriculture in England, which were in existence and have been of great use to agriculturists?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

I have no reason to suppose that any new leaflets were required.