HC Deb 30 June 1908 vol 191 cc577-8
MR. MORRELL (Oxfordshire, Henley)

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether the Board are aware that at a recent inquiry held under the Act, at Dorchester, in Oxfordshire, only five out of twelve applicants were present, and that this was partly, at least, owing to the fact that the inquiry was held at a time when it was impossible for all the applicants to attend.

THE TREASURER OF THE HOUSEHOLD (Sir EDWAED STRACHEY,) Somersetshire, S.

The Board are informed by the clerk of the county council that no complaint as to the time or place of meeting was received, and no reasons for non-attendance were given except by one applicant. In the hope of suiting the convenience of those who did not attend, another meeting was arranged and due notice given to the absent applicants, but only the one who had written explaining his absence at the previous meeting attended.

VISCOUNT VALENTIA (Oxford)

Could this information not be obtained more readily from the clerk to the county council of the county, a division of which the hon. Member so ably represents, than through the Board of Agriculture?

SIR EDWARD STRACHEY

It is entirely at the option of the hon. Member to address the question either to the county council or myself.

MR. MORRELL

Is not the object in addressing the question to the Board to call public attention to the matter, and is not that desirable?

SIR EDWARD STRACHEY

It depends entirely on the circumstances of the case.