§ MR. F. A. CHANNING (Northampton, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the position of copyholders in some cases where the right of free chase and free warren is vested in the lord of the manor, and to the fact that they have no rights under the Ground Game Act or any other Act to protect their crops from damage; by ground game; and whether he will either introduce or give support to a Bill to confer upon such copyholders, under equitable conditions, similar rights to those enjoyed by tenant occupiers under the Ground Game Act?
§ SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEYMy attention has been called to this matter, and I have been in communication in regard to it with the Board of Agriculture. I cannot undertake to introduce legislation myself, but I should be glad to give favourable consideration to any Bill dealing with the subject, as the hon. Member says, on equitable terms. The subject, however, presents several difficulties which have not been adequately dealt with in the Bills of previous years. The rights now in question, which may affect freehold as well as copyhold land, differ in material points from those affected by the Act of 1880.
MR. CHANGINGIf a Bill is introduced by a private Member with proposals that meet with his approval, will the right hon. Gentleman assent to its passing, so far as he is concerned?
§ SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEYsaid he should be glad to co-operate in removing the existing grievances, but so far the Bills he had seen did not deal adequately with the subject.