§ MR. ROGERS (Wiltshire, Devizes)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that Barton Farm, Isle of Wight, containing 572 acres, the property of the Crown, is now being farmed by the Woods and Forests Commissioners themselves at a loss, for the year ending 31st March, 1905, of £1,086 0s. 7d., and for the year ending 31st March, 1906, at a loss of £876 17s. 10d.; what sum, if any, has to be added on account of rent in order to arrive at the full loss sustained by the Commissioners by farming this land themselves; and whether the Commissioners are taking any steps, by sub-division of this holding, to arrive at a more profitable method of dealing with the property.
§ MR. MCKENNABarton Farm contains 768 acres. The cash expended in the two years referred to exceeded the cash received in those years by the amounts stated, but the value of the stock, etc., on the farm is considerable. No valuation for letting Barton Farm has been made and the rent cannot, therefore, be stated. The farm is intermixed with other parts of the Osborne property which are devoted to other Government purposes, and although the question has been examined, it has not been considered expedient to try to let the principal parts of the farm. Some outlying portions have been let, but it is doubtful if further land to any 1024 extent could be let with advantage while the farm is kept in hand.