§ MR. J. HOWARDasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he will cause an inquiry to be instituted into the management of the Crown Estate at Stagsden, Bedfordshire, and the alleged harsh treatment of the tenants since the estate was transferred to the Crown by the trustees of the late Baron Dynevor; and, whether he will direct particular inquiry to be made into the case of George Pettit, an industrious and respected tenant farmer upon the said Crown Estate, who recently committed suicide, and who, according to the evidence adduced at the coroner's inquest, left behind him a memorandum to the effect that he had been driven to the act by the treatment which he had received at the hands of the agent of the Crown Estates?
MR. GLADSTONEThe matter is one which deserves to be considered with care. The estate to which the Question relates, and which consists of something like 4,000 acres, was purchased for £112,000, and £21,000 has been laid out in improvements. The farms have been let, according to the judgment of those intrusted with the management, in strict accordance with the provisions of the Land Revenues Act. The valuation on which they have been let is that of Mr. Clutton, who is well known as one of the most experienced valuators in England. The total amount of rent is £4,312, at 23s. an acre. Owing to the bad times allowances have been made to the tenants amounting to 11 per cent in 1878, 17 per cent in 1879, and 22 per cent in 1880. The same reduction has been granted in 1881. This leaves the rent at something like 22s. an acre, and it will be seen that there is nothing like severity or hardship in the general management of the estate. George Pettit, I am informed, held 171 acres 959 of some of the best land on the estate, on which £2,000 had been laid out in making improvements. He paid 25s. an acre, deducting the allowances in bad times which I have described. Last Michaelmas he fell into an arrear of £20, of Which no notice was taken until the month of March in this year, when application was made to him for payment. In reply he requested some further time, and no further application was made to him. On the l5th of April the Commissioners visited the farm, and Pettit made no complaint to them, and expressed himself well satisfied with the new buildings and improvements which had been made. He asked that some further works might be carried out, and the application was acceded to and the works put in hand. I may add that there is no doubt this gentleman suffered a good deal from anxiety of mind; but I am informed that he took a second farm by which he lost heavily. I may also mention that I am assured that two months ago, in the course of conversation with his brother, he spoke of the great anxiety which he felt in connection with the farm which he had lately taken; but that he made no complaint with reference to the farm which he held under the Crown.
§ MR. J. HOWARDasked whether the information which the right hon. Gentleman had given to the House was supplied from the Department of Woods and Forests, or whether it came from an independent and impartial source? He should also like to know whether the right hon. Gentleman had read the report of the evidence winch had been given at the Coroner's inquest, and the comments which had been made ill the county newspapers on the management of the estate in question; also whether his attention had been called to the case of another tenant?
§ MR. SPEAKERsaid, the observations of the hon. Gentleman could scarcely be regarded as coming within the proper limits of a Question, as they involved matter which might lead to debate.
§ MR. J. HOWARDgave Notice that when the Motion of the hon. Member for Cardiganshire (Mr. Pugh), with regard to the management of the Crown Lands in Wales, came on for discussion, he should move that the proposed inquiry be extended to the Crown Estates in Bedfordshire.
MR. GLADSTONEI may be allowed to say that the information which I communicated to the House was received from the Commissioners of Crown Lands. I would, at the same time, observe that that information turns upon matters of fact, and not of opinion.