§ Mr. MILLSasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount of public funds paid to the Agricultural Organisation Society during the current financial year; what is the total expenditure of that society since 1st April, 1920, in respect of salaries and expenses of all employés, political propaganda and work on behalf of the Agricultural Wholesale Society; what is the total amount received by that society since 1st April, 1920, in affiliation fees from farmers, smallholders, and allotment holders; and what is the precise number of farmers, smallholders, and allotment holders who have paid affiliation fees since that date, each number being stated separately?
§ Mr. BALDWINThe amount of public funds paid to the Agricultural Organisation Society during the current financial year has been £26,000 from the Development Fund and £4,000 from the Small Holdings Account of the Ministry of Agriculture. I am informed that the total expenditure of the Society in respect of salaries and expenses of employés since 1st April, 1920, up to 28th February is £29,876. The Society does not engage in political propaganda, nor does it do work on behalf of the Agricultural Wholesale Society. The total amount received by the Society in affiliation fees from societies during the period 1st April, 1920, to 28th February, 1921, is £2,178, divided as follows
Farmers' Societies £1,438 12s. 4d.Allotments and Small Holdings Societies £739 7s. 8d.It is understood that the greater portion of the Society's voluntary income is, however, received during the last month of the financial year. The Society does not draw affiliation fees from individual farmers, smallholders, or allotment holders.