§ Viscount WOLMERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he can state the percentage of officials at the Board of Agriculture who have practical knowledge of farming?
Sir A. BOSCAWENThe large majority of the officials of the Board are not dealing with practical agriculture, and possess no experience in that direction. It is difficult to define what constitutes a practical knowledge of farming, but in the Land Division of nine permanent commissioners three have farmed land of their own, and six have practised as land agents. Of the forty-two District Commissioners and Sub-Commissioners, thirteen have farmed and twenty have practised as land agents, sixteen being Fellows or professional associates of the Surveyors' Institution. In the Intelligence Division of the twelve higher officials above the rank of inspector or second-class clerk, six possess practical experience of farming.