§ Mr. JOHN WARDasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the British Bee-keepers' Association has received a Grant from the Development 1457W Commissioners; if so, what is the amount; whether he is aware that the secretary of the association is also proprietor of a trade paper called the "Bee Journal," and is also employed as an expert by the Commission; and whether the Development Commissioners have considered the question of assisting local or county bodies or councils interested in this industry?
§ Mr. MASTERMANOn the recommendation of the Development Commissioners a Grant of a sum not exceeding £850 was made to the British Bee-keepers' Association in 1911, £350 for an experimental apiary, and a sum equal to the income of the association for the year but not exceeding £500 for general organisation, including among other things the promotion of county associations. A further Grant of a sum not exceeding £150 for the experimental apiary has recently been made. The answer to the third part of the question is in the negative. The secretary has never been employed as an expert by the Development Commission. The Grant made from the Development Fund to the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries for Farm Institutes is available for assistance to local authorities for instruction in bee-keeping among other subjects.