4. Duchess of ATHOLLasked the Secretary of State for India if the recent appointment by the Government of India of an experienced marketing inspector from this country as central marketing officer in India for agricultural produce was made with his approval?
§ Sir S. HOAREThe appointment was not one for which my approval was required.
Duchess of ATHOLLAgain, may I ask whether the appointment of this officer by the Government of India is consistent with what we are told of their advocacy of Federal Government, which will have no power to advise or assist the Provincial Governments in regard to agriculture which is to be an exclusively provincial subject?
§ Sir S. HOAREI would refer the Noble Lady to the answer which I have just given.
Duchess of ATHOLLIf the Federal Government, under the White Paper proposals, will have no power of spending public money in regard to agriculture, how can it possibly continue the appointment of this central marketing officer, to say nothing of the central agricultural stations which, at present, it maintains?
§ Sir S. HOAREAgriculture, like education, is a transferred subject. In each case there is great value in co-ordination, but not in administration, from the centre.
Duchess of ATHOLLMay I ask how any co-ordination can be carried out without expenditure of public money which the Federal Government will have no power to expend?