§ VISCOUNT BARRINGTONasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether, with reference to the contemplated manœuvres of troops next autumn, it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to enter into any communication with the owners and occupiers of land in the districts where such manœuvres may take place?
§ MR. CARDWELLSir, I have received from my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Berkshire a resolution unanimously carried at a meeting of owners and occupiers of land in the Ilsley district, in the county of Berks—
That this meeting, fully relying upon a reasonable regard being held in view by the military authorities for taking the necessary measures to protect the land, the crops, and the Downs from serious injury, will gladly render such assistance and co-operation as may be necessary, in order to facilitate the movement and exercise of troops during the autumn along the open country of the Down district of the county.And also—That this Committee, entertaining no doubt that the determination of Government to form a Camp of Exercise on a large scale is a wise measure, and likely to prove a national advantage, readily acquiesce in the propriety of selecting the 1254 neighbourhood of the Berkshire Downs as a suitable locality, and gladly express on the part of the farmers in this vicinity their wish to co-operate in carrying out the proposed arrangement.As soon as the detailed arrangements are sufficiently advanced, communications will be made to the parties interested, and I shall be happy to enter into reasonable arrangements for preventing the occurrence of disputes.
COLONEL LOYD LINDSAYasked, Whether, in the event of the Berkshire Downs being selected for the proposed military manœuvres, the Secretary of State for War would be good enough to state whether compensation for any serious positive injury which may be sustained would be allowed; and whether, with a view of judging of such injury, he would sanction (when the time arrived) the appointment of a mixed Committee, consisting of military officers, owners and occupiers of land, whose duty it would be to visit the fields and lands previous to the arrival and after the departure of the troops, and then and there decide if any damage had been done, and, if any, what amount, the Committee having, if necessary, power to call in a professional valuer?
§ MR. CARDWELLOf course, if serious injury were done, it would be necessary that compensation be provided; and as to the detailed plan suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend I shall be happy to communicate with him to give it consideration.