§ VISCOUNT NOVAR had given Notice to ask His Majesty's Government whether the figures given in the public Press in connection with the Auditor-General's review of the Board of Agriculture's Accounts for 1925–26, showing a loss of £139,818 5s. 9d. on the farms managed by the Board include a proportion of
404§ not give their opinion at the present moment upon the merits of the proposal. They have got full liberty to do so, and all I can say, without disrespect to my noble friend Lord Salisbury, is that I hope nobody will be found to imitate his example.
§ On Question, Whether the word "now" shall stand part of the Motion?
§ Their Lordships divided: Contents, 44; Not-Contents, 23.
403| CONTENTS. | ||
| Bedford, D. | Hampden, V. | Meldrum, L. (M. Huntly.) |
| Sutherland, D. | Novar, V. | Monson, L. |
| Wellington, D. | Newton, L. [Teller.] | |
| Askwith, L. | Oranmore and Browne, L. (L. Mereworth.) | |
| Bathurst, E. | Clanwilliam, L. (E. Clanwilliam.) | |
| Bradford, E. | Ponsonby, L. (E. Bessborough.) | |
| De La Warr, E. | Dawson of Penn, L. | |
| Derby, E. | Dynevor, L. | Queenborough, L. |
| Ellesmere, E. | Douglas, L. (E. Home.) | Redesdale, L. |
| Lindsay, E. | Fairfax of Cameron, L. | Ritchie of Dundee, L. |
| Midleton, E. | Forester, L. | Shandon, L. |
| Minto, E. | Hamilton of Dalzell, L. | Teynham, L. |
| Strafford, E. | Hampton, L. | Thomson, L. |
| Howard of Glossop, L. | Wavertree, L. [Teller.] | |
| Churchill, V. | Joicey, L. | Wharton, L. |
| Elibank, V. | Kylsant, L. | Wyfold. |
| FitzAlan of Derwent, V. | Lawrence, L. |
| NOT-CONTENTS. | ||
| Salisbury, M. (L. Privy Seal.) | Allendale, V. | Danesfort, L. |
| Haldane, V. | Darling, L. | |
| Hutchinson, V. (E. Donoughmore.) | Gainford, L. | |
| Normanby, M. | Hemphill, L. | |
| Muir Mackenzie, L. | ||
| Buxton, E. | Southwark, L. Bp. [Teller.] | Northington, L. (L. Henley.) |
| Lucan, E. | ||
| Plymouth, E. | Arnold, L. | Parmoor, L. |
| Russell, E. [Teller.] | Biddulph, L. | Stanmore, L. |
| Stanhope, E. | Clwyd, L. | Templemore, L. |
§ the cost of the Board of Agriculture and officials in Edinburgh and Inverness including salaries, travelling expenses and other outlays, and if not, what does the additional loss amount to? The noble Viscount said: My Lords, I beg to ask my Question.
THE PAYMASTER-GENERAL (THE DUKE OF SUTHERLAND)My Lords, in reply to the noble Viscount, the accounts to which he refers are those published in the Volume of Trading Accounts and Balance Sheets 1925–6 presented to Parliament on February 14, 1927. As explained at page 78 of the volume the account, from which the figure of £139,818 5s. 9d. is quoted, relates to fifty-seven properties which were acquired by the Board for the purpose of effecting 405 the settlement of small holders under the Small Holding Colonies and Land Settlement (Scotland) Acts. In certain cases farms on these properties have been managed by the Board for varying periods for the purpose of preparing the ground, carrying out works of adaptation and equipment, disposing of surplus sheep stocks and other preliminary operations prior to the settlement of holders. The loss of £139,818 5s. 9d. represents the net result for the year ended March 31, 1926, of the Board's intromissions in respect of the whole of these transactions and is not therefore a loss on farm management alone. The cost of acquiring the properties and stock thereon, including sheep stock as well as the cost of providing buildings for the holders and all other items incidental to settlement, and also the appropriate 406 proportion of the salaries and expenses of the Board and their staff engaged on the work are all taken into account in arriving at the final figure.