§ COMMANDER BETHELL () York, E.R., HoldernessI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what is the cause of delay in the pending arbitration as to the amount to be paid by the Crown for certain lands at Shoeburyness, the claim to which was finally decided by the House of Lords in 1891; if he is aware that the delay causes great inconvenience to the owners, who assert that they have pressed for arbitration under the terms of their agreement since 1891; if it is the case that interest at 5 per cent. on the amount determined has to be paid since 1881; and whether he is aware that the owners can materially interfere with the range at Shoeburyness in order to insist upon a prompt settlement of the question?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThe cause of the present delay in the pending arbitration is that the claimants refuse to be bound by the opinion which the counsel, who settled the terms on which the action of "Emerson v.Childers" was stayed in 1881, have given as to the construction of those terms. As the delay is caused by the action of the owners it is within their power to stop any inconvenience which may result to them from it. Five per cent. interest from 1881 on the amount to be determined has to be paid. I am not aware of the circumstances alleged in the last paragraph.