asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) the number of persons presently employed in the Provincial Agricultural Economics Service; and the number of persons provided in the establishment for the service;

(2) the number of persons who have been employed in the Provincial Agricultural Economic Service since its inception; and the average duration of employment of those who have left the service and of those who are presently employed in the service.

Mr. Amory:

Apart from clerical staff, the present number of persons holding these university appointments is 146, out of a complement of 160; since October, 1945, 304 persons have held such appointments; and the average length of service from 1924 to date is, in the case of existing personnel, rather more than nine years. I regret that particulars of length of service are not available for staff who have retired, resigned or died.