I920.] 



Questions in Parliament. 



397 



representative had been appointed. The Directors' fees are paid by 

 the Company, but the fees of the financial representative were paid 

 over to the Ministry, and the financial representative was paid an 

 equivalent amount by the Ministry in place of receiving his remuneration 

 direct from the Company, (8th June, 1920.) 



Calf Breeding-. — In reply to a question by Captain Terrell, the Par- 

 liamentary Secretary to the Ministry stated that while the Ministry 

 was not taking any special steps to stimulate the raising of calves, the 

 provision of bulls under the Live Stock Scheme encourages indirectly 

 the rearing of calves, as on the information before the Ministry practicallv 

 all the heifer calves and the majority of the bull calves that were bred 

 from subsidised sires were reared in consequence of their higher value. 

 It was to be regretted that large numbers of calves bred in dairying 

 districts were not fit to rear owing to the fact that many dairy farmers 

 made use of badly-bred bulls. It was hoped that when meat was de- 

 controlled next month* there would be greater inducement to rear 

 calves. (i6th June, 1920.) 



The Kings's Premium for Staliions. — In reply to a question by Sir 

 R. Newman, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry stated that 

 of the 60 stallions which were awarded King's Premiums this season, 

 53 had been raced and 36 of them were winners. In their award of 

 premiums the judges take into consideration a stallion's turf record, 

 and with this object in view they were furnished by the Ministry with 

 particulars of the racing performances of all the horses exhibited for 

 premiums. (7th June, 1920.) 



The A§:riculiure Biil and Nursery Gardens, — In reply to a question 

 by Mr. A. Samuel, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry stated 

 that although the occupiers of nursery grounds had to pay their employees 

 the minimum wages prescribed by the Agricultural Wages Board, 

 nursery grounds did not come within the definition of a holding in the 

 Agricultural Holdings Act, and consequently the occupiers could not 

 obtain the compensation provided by the Act for tenants of agricultural 

 holdings or market gardens. It appeared to the Ministry that it would 

 be difficult to justify the extension of the scope of the Agricultural 

 Holdings Act so as to include nursery grounds, and he was not prepared, 

 therefore, to propose an Amendment to the Agricultural Bill to that 

 effect. "With regard to the point as to the payment of minimum wages, 

 it seemed obvious that occupiers of nursery grounds could not reasonably 

 expect to pay wages which are less than minimum wages fixed for agri- 

 cultural labourers. (i6th June, 1920.) 



Hay and Straw Department, War Office. — In reply to a question by 

 Sir A. Williamson, the Parliamentary'' Secretary to the Ministry stated 

 that the Forage Department of the War Office was being woumd up. 

 and would cease to exist at the end of the present month. The Depart- 

 ment occupied one office only with a small staff, which was daily dimin- 

 ishing. (9tli June, 1920.) 



Agrricultural Orgranisation Society. — In reply to a question by Mr. 

 Robert Young, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry stated 

 that during the financial year 1919-20, grants paid to the Agricultural 

 Organisation Society from the Development Fund and the Ministry 

 amounted to ;^45,6oo. In addition, a loan of 5,000 was issued to the 



* Control of Meat ceased on 4th July, 1920 ; ?ee no!c on p. 309. 



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