§ Mr. MILLSasked the Minister of Agriculture the number of State demonstration farms in existence in this country; whether any of the Dominions possess such farms; and, if so, how many?
§ Mr. PALINGThere are no State demonstration farms in this country. Apart, however, from farms attached to research institutes, there are how 33 farms in England and Wales conducted by universities, county councils and similar bodies, with aid from my right hon. Friend's Department, for educational and demonstrational purposes. So far as my right hon. Friend's information goes, the number of stations in the Dominions either conducted or subsidised by the State for such purposes is as follows:
Canada … … 237 Australia … … 57 New Zealand … … 14 Irish Free State … … 5 My right hon. Friend has no information concerning the Union of South Africa or Newfoundland. It should be added, however, that many of these stations, particularly in Canada, are of 1390W the nature of demonstration plots conducted by a farmer under supervision, rather than demonstration farms in the full sense of the words.