§ 28. Mr. JAMES HOGGEasked whether, owing to the continued emigration to the Colonies, farmers in many parts of Lowland Scotland have experienced difficulty in securing their full complement of farm hands; and whether, as a result of the scarcity of men, wages in different districts of Scotland have risen at the recent Whit Sunday term from £2 to £6 per annum?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe reply to the first of the question is in the affirmative. The Board of Agriculture's report for June states that wages of ploughmen in certain districts of Scotland rose from £2 to £4 per annum at the recent Whit Sunday term.
§ Mr. HOGGEDoes the right hon. Gentleman appreciate the fact that this is due to the increased and increasing emigration?
§ Mr. HOGGEDoes the right hon. Gentleman think it is a good thing in itself that agricultural labourers in Scotland often leave the country in order to earn a livelihood?
§ 29. Mr. J. HOGGEasked what are the rates of wages, including all perquisites and the cash value of housing accommodation, paid to various grades of ploughmen in the different areas of Lowland Scotland?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe information desired by my hon. Friend is not available, and I fear that with the present pressure of work upon the Board of Agriculture I could not ask them to undertake the extensive inquiry which would be involved. The Royal Commission is inquiring into the question of the housing of ploughmen.
§ Mr. HOGGEHow is it that there is this enormous pressure of work on the Board of Agriculture, and that it takes over ten months to move between one letter being received and another application? What are they doing?
Mr. McKINNON WOODIf my hon. Friend had read the Report of the Board of Agriculture he would not have asked such a question.