§ Mr. HOHLERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions what are the terms upon which auctioneers are employed by them; and will he give the largest sum paid or payable to any auctioneer from the 1st April, 1919, to the 1st January, 1920, and the terms on which this auctioneer was employed?
Mr. HOPEOne salaried auctioneer is at present employed. The remainder have been paid on a commission basis. The terms, which have formed the subject of discussion with the auctioneers' institute, vary between ½ per cent. and 5 per cent. according to the nature of the property to be sold and the value of the property included in a particular sale. The largest sum earned by any firm of auctioneers during the period from 1st April to 31st December, 1919, was £13,028. This represents an average commission of less than 1 per cent. of the amount realised.