FOREST OF DEAN.—OBSERVATIONS. (Hansard, 1 June 1877)

§ COLONEL KINGSCOTE

rose to call attention to the state of the Forest of Dean, especially as regarded the sale of land by the Crown for building and other purposes. The hon. and gallant Member said that he had intended, if the Forms of the House had permitted, to move— That, pending legislation for carrying out the recommendations of the Select Committee which sat in 1874 on Dean Forest, it is expedient that further facilities should be given by the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Woods and Forests to enable the inhabitants of the Forest of Dean to purchase waste or other land in the said forest belonging to the Crown for building or garden purposes, as provided by the Act 10 Geo. 4, c. 50 1225 The Report of the Select Committee on the Forest, which was appointed in 1874 to inquire into the laws and rights affecting Dean Forest and the condition thereof, set forth that it was in a bad state, and that this condition was owing to official neglect. In consequence of this inquiry, in 1875 a Bill was brought in appointing Commissioners with powers to inquire into the boundaries and other matters connected with the Forest, the setting out of spaces for recreation and enjoyment, the allotment of garden ground for the labouring classes, and the sale of land for building and other purposes by auction or private contract. That plainly indicated that the sale and allotment of land in considerable quantities for the use of the inhabitants of the Forest had been contemplated. That Bill, however, was never read the second time; and since then nothing had been done to remedy the evils which had been proved before the Select Committee of that House to exist in the Forest of Dean. He therefore felt it necessary again to call the attention of the House to the subject. The Forest of Dean was in 1712 little better than a wilderness—the only dwellings within the boundary being six lodges for keepers. Since then, however, owing to the development of minerals, which were very extensively worked, the population had very largely increased. In 1788 there were 598 cottages, and a population of about 3,000; and in 1871 there were 4,000 cottages and a population of over 22,000. But the people located there lived in wretched cottages, many of which consisted of only one or two rooms: they had hardly any garden ground, and not a paddock or a small field was to be found in the Forest where a cottager could keep a cow. Great inconvenience necessarily resulted from that state of things, and, instead of matters getting better in that respect, they were steadily growing worse. The population went on increasing, but no land was sold for building purposes or for garden allotment.

Notice taken, that 40 Members were not present; House counted, and 40 Members being found present,

§ COLONEL KINGSCOTE

proceeded to quote from the evidence taken before the Select Committee to show the extent to which overcrowding existed in the 1226 dwellings of the miners. One witness gave as a typical instance a ease in which there were 17 persons, comprising three distinct families, living in a house with only two small rooms. In addition to being thus overcrowded, the miners and other workpeople had further and further to go to their employment. He blamed the authorities for not having made any attempt when minerals were developed in the Forest to provide for the wants of the population. The amount of land sold from 1856 to 1860 inclusive was only 24 acres, and from 1872 to 1876 inclusive 18 acres. In the four years previous to 1872—a period during which the population rapidly increased—only 5½ acres were sold, and although the land was of very inferior quality, the price obtained for it per acre was as high as He was sure the House would agree with him in thinking that some remedy was required for this state of things. If the Bill of 1875 could not be passed, he would ask the officials of the Crown to exercise the powers they had by 10 Geo. IV., c. 50, s. 98, or if this did not give sufficient scope to bring in a short Bill, in order to obtain additional powers, to sell land say at £60 an acre, which would be a fair price. He was convinced that the sale of even 500 acres would be of the greatest benefit to the inhabitants of the Forest.

Notice taken, that 40 Members were not present; House counted, and 40 Members not being present,