§ MR. G. BERKELEYasked whether orders had been issued by the Commissioners of Woods and Forests for the destruction of the deer in the forest of Dean, and in the New Forest? And, if so, whether copies of the orders would be laid upon the table of the House, as there was no right to destroy deer in a royal forest without an Act of Parliament?
§ MR. HAYTERsaid, that there were no such orders issued regarding the New Forest, of which His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge was ranger, and over which the Commissioners of Woods and Forests had no power to make such an order. With regard to the Forest of Dean, over which they had full power, and where there was no ranger, there had been such universal complaints of the demoralising influence upon the people living around, produced by the opportunities 1113 they had of killing the deer, that the commissioners had at length acceded to the requests of the mining proprietors, and ordered the destruction of the deer. Their objects in so doing were, at once to check the demoralising effects upon the population, to prevent the frequent collisions between the keepers and poachers, and to preserve the valuable young timber which was growing in the forest. The number of deer in the forest of Dean and in the Highmeadow Woods adjoining, was by statute restricted to 800, nor was it essential that there should be any deer in the forest of Dean at all. The Commissioners of Woods and Forests, by letter dated the 15th of January, 1850, informed the verderers of Dean Forest that they had decided on the discontinuance of deer in Dean Forest and in the Highmeadow Woods adjoining. The commissioners received their power over the forest from an Act of Parliament passed ten or twelve years ago, appointing them chief wardens; and the forest itself was regulated by the provisions of two Acts of Parliament, the 20th Chas. IL, and another Act that was passed in the year 1808, reviving the 20th Chas. II.
§ MR. G. BERKELEYsaid, that under those circumstances he was quite sure it would be a boon to the forest to have the deer destroyed.