§ MR. HENEAGE (Great Grimsby)On behalf of the right hon. Baronet the Member for London University, I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been called to a statement recently made by Mr. Lascelles, the Deputy Surveyor of the Now Forest, that the young trees are being utterly destroyed by cattle, and that the provision of any protection is prevented by a well-meant but ill-drawn Act of Parliament; that the glory of the greatest of our national estates is being slowly destroyed; that the woods are gradually disappearing; and that the forest will ere long become entirely denuded of trees; and whether he proposes to take any steps to prevent so lamentable a result?
§ SIR W. HARCOURTThe statement referred to is not an official statement, and I cannot agree in the description given in the question of an Act of Parliament for which I was myself responsible. At the same time, having gone to the New Forest for peace and repose, I do not wish to put my hand into a hornet's nest; and if the right hon. Gentleman wishes to have my opinion it is that measures ought to be taken which, consistently with public rights, will do more than is done at present to prevent the 1097 denudation of the forest. I certainly desire to see the Forest preserved, but the matter is one surrounded by great difficulties.