§ MR. MORRELLI beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture whether his attention has 580 been called to the fact that, at an inquiry under the Small Holdings Act held at Bishop's Lydeard, in Somerset, by the Somerset County Council, on Wednesday, 10th June, the chairman of the committee said that they had had the advice of the Board of Agriculture not to be in any particular haste to put the Act into operation, because it required very careful consideration; and whether the chairman had any authority for making such a statement.
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYThe Board are informed that the chairman of the committee in question, in using the words to which my hon. friend refers, wished to emphasise the fact that care must be taken in putting the Act into operation and not in any way to encourage delay. Indeed he expressly stated that the council were desirous of carrying through the necessary inquiries at the earliest possible date. The reference to "the advice of the Board of Agriculture" was to our circular letter of 1st January last, a copy of which is doubtless in the possession of my hon. friend.