33. Mr. OUTH WAITEasked how many men were employed on the Skidby and East Heddon estates before they were acquired under the Small Holdings Act; and how many are now employed?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI am informed that on the Skidby estate before it was acquired for small holdings there were nine men fully employed and two partly employed, and that now there are fourteen fully employed and eighteen partly employed. On the East Heddon estate there were formerly ten men employed as against thirty-five at the present time, with additional assistance at certain seasons in each case.
§ Mr. WEDGWOODMay we take it that there is more than twice as much wealth produced on the land now than previously, and that at the same time rates have been doubled?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI cannot say what the produce of the land was. But what we do know is that the rates on the land, apart from the buildings, have been doubled, and that the amount of labour employed has been increased by at least twice.