§ MR. CROOKS (Woolwich)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, having regard to the fact that under 43 Geo. 3, c. 35, by which the Ordnance authorities acquired certain lands in Woolwich, all common of pasture and turbary and other common rights and privileges thereon were reserved, he will now abandon the proposal to fence in any part of Woolwich Common.
§ MR. HALDANEMy hon. friend has been misinformed. The Act in question contains no such reservation.
§ MR. CROOKSquoted the words from the Act in regard to common pasture and turbary and asked should this be the subject of reference to the Attorney-General.
§ MR. HALDANEreplied that it was quite unnecessary to refer the matter to the Attorney - General. The words to which his hon. friend had called attention referred to common rights which were bought and paid for long ago.
§ LORD BALCARRES (Lancashire, Chorley)asked whether, in view of the fact that within fifteen months there had been three attempts to take land from the common, the right hon. Gentleman would reconsider this matter.
§ MR. HALDANEsaid he could not do that. It was absolutely necessary to take ground for training a company. To encroach on the rights of the public would be the last thing in the world that he would wish, but he was bound to do what he could to secure the efficiency of these officers. The War Office had bought and paid for all the rights.
§ MR. CROOKSasked whether these lands were not the waste lands of the manor of Eltham.
§ MR. HALDANErepeated that all the rights were bought long ago.