30. MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEasked what was the total amount of salary paid to the members of the Board of Agriculture and of the Land Court, respectively, from 1st April to 31st December, 1912; and what was the total expenditure, less salaries, travelling, and maintenance of officials, upon small holdings of the above two bodies during the period named?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe total amounts of salaries for the period stated were:—For members of the Board of Agriculture, £2,400; and for the members of the Land Court, £5,100. It is not possible to state the expenditure upon small holdings for this reason, among others, that the amount of compensation to landlords is not yet settled.
31. MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEasked the amount of travelling allowance and maintenance paid to officials or employés of the Board of Agriculture or Land Court in connection with small holdings from the 31st December, 1912, to 31st December, 1913; and the amount of the fair rental adjudicated upon?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe amount of such expenditure for that time by the Board of Agriculture was £3,364 16s. 11d., and by the Land Court (including members and staff) was £2,409 7s. 5d. As to the second part of the question, I would refer the Noble Lord to the answer which I gave to the question by the Noble Lord on 18th February.
§ Sir G. YOUNGERMight not a very large amount of the expenditure be saved if local people were employed?
Mr. McKINNON WOODI agree, and I have promised to try and save some of the expenditure. That is the object of the amending Bill to the Small Land Holders (Scotland) Act introduced by one of my hon. Friends, and I hope it will have that result.
32. MARQUESS Of TULLIBARDINEasked the amount of travelling allowance and maintenance paid to the officials and employés of the Board of Agriculture and Land Court in connection with small holdings from 1st April to 31st December, 1912?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe amount of such expenditure for that time by the Board of Agriculture was £1,440 16s. 10d., and by the Land Court (including members and staff) was £1,469 10s. 3d.
MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEDoes this mean that upwards of £8,000 has since been expended for travelling alone?
§ Mr. WILLIAM YOUNGHas this, expense not been largely increased by difficulties encountered in dealing with various landowners with whom the Scottish Board of Agriculture has been in communication with regard to small holdings?
Mr. McKINNON WOODI do not think the travelling expenses have been increased by that alone. The compensation may, and has been, increased. As a matter of fact it is greatly for the convenience of farmers that these hearings should be held locally, and that involves extra expense.
§ Sir G. YOUNGERHas not a great part of the expense been incurred in visiting holdings and reconsidering the rents?
Mr. McKINNON WOODYes, a considerable part has been incurred in revaluing the farms in accordance with the Statute.