§ MR. GINNELL (Westmeath, N.)I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, seeing that the Small Holdings Act came into operation 1264 on 1st January last in all counties alike, and while working beneficially in some counties is being nullified in others, whether the Board has due regard to the hardship inflicted on the people in the latter counties whom the Act was intended to benefit; whether he will lay upon the Table the latest communication addressed by the Board to the defaulting councils on the subject of their default; and whether the Board will forthwith address a mandatory communication to defaulting councils in whose counties there is a demand for small holdings, or would be a demand if land were acquired, and fix 31st December, 1908, as the latest date before which those councils must take action bona fide for the purposes of the Act.
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYThe Board do not think any useful purpose would be served at present by adopting the hon. Member's suggestions.