§ SIR JOHN BRUNNER (Cheshire, Northwich)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Woods and Forests, will he explain on what grounds the pigs belonging to commoners of the New Forest, turned out in accordance with immemorial custom to run in the, open wastes of the forest, and properly ringed to prevent damage to the pasture, have recently been impounded by order of the deputy surveyor, and only released on payment of large and arbitrarily fixed sums of money; whether he is aware of the hardship of thus compelling the commoners either to submit to an infringement of what they believe to be their rights, or to engage in expensive litigation with a Government Department; and whether he can give the House an assurance that there will be no further interference of this kind with a class of small stock-keepers and farmers, who have maintained themselves in independence throughout the agricultural depression, and in whose welfare Parliament has frequently shown an interest?
THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. W. R. HANIRTRY,) PrestonThe Register of the Decision of claims of right of common and other rights in and over the New Forest pursuant to 17&18 Vic., cap. 49, declares that—
Every right of common of mast is to be exercised only in time of pannage, that is to say, on and from the twenty-fifth day of September up to and on the twenty-second day of November yearly, in all the open and unenclosed woods and woody lands of our Lady the Queen in the said Forest, for all their hogs and pigs ringed, levant, and couchant, in and upon the 278 lands in respect of which the allowance is made, upon pigment, sinless otherwise expressed, yearly, to or for the use of our Lady the Queen, for every hog or pig exceeding the age of one year, fourpence, and for every hog or pig under that age, twopence.The right to turn out pigs is thus expressly limited to the period commencing 25th September and ending 22nd November, and there has been no interference on the part of the Crown Officers in the forest with that right. Two herds of pigs found by a forest keeper in the open forest after the pannage season had ended, were recently impounded. In such cases the usual fines are 2s. 6d. for each sow, and 1s. 3d. for each "shoot" or half-grown pig, and 1s. additional for each pig not properly rung. These fines rest on ancient custom. The keepers had been instructed by the deputy surveyor to levy "the double fine" when they found the pigs unrung, that is, the 2s. 6d. or 1s. 3d., as the case may be, and, in addition, the is for the want of the ring. The keeper who seized the two herds referred to, misunderstanding the deputy surveyor's directions, demanded twice the amount of the ordinary fines, namely, 5s. for each sow, and 2s. 6d. for each shoot, and, in addition, 1s. each for 10 that were not rung, but on this mistake being brought to the deputy surveyor's notice, it was rectified. There has been no new departure from any custom, and none is contemplated.
§ SIR J. BRUNNERCan the right hon. Gentleman assure me that this is not a new move on the part of a "new broom?" These fines have not been inflicted for a long time.
§ MR. HANBURYThere has been tin new departure whatever. It is simply following an old custom.
§ MR. SCOTT-MONTAGU (Hants,) New ForestArising out of this, I can assure the hon. Baronet that these questions are dealt with—[Cries of "Order!" and laughter.]