§ Captain Sir C. BATHURSTasked the Minister of Reconstruction who are the persons whom he is employing to prepare and advise upon schemes for rural reconstruction after the War; and what is the extent of their practical knowledge of agriculture and other rural industries during the past forty years?
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§ Dr. ADDISONThe assistant secretary is Mr. Douglas Newton, who is acting in an honorary capacity and who is a practical agriculturist with extensive farming experience. He is assisted in the office by three officers, one of whom, Mr. Salmon, was formerly a land agent with farming experience; the second, Captain Reiss, is a recognised expert in rural housing, and the third, Mr. A. Rogers, is an official of the Board of Agriculture acting as liaison officer with my Department. The Advisory Section of the Council dealing with rural matters includes the hon. Member for the Exchange Division of Liverpool, as chairman, Mr. Charles Adeane, Mr. Duncan of the Scottish Farm Servants Union, Sir Charles Fielding, Mr. Edward Strutt, and Professor T. B. Wood whose competence in agricultural matters is, I think, sufficiently known and appreciated. The hon. Member for the Newport Division of Shropshire represents agriculture on the Committee appointed to advise upon the disposal of war stores.