§ MR. MORRELLI beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether, if it can be shown that the interests of any applicants have, in fact, been prejudiced owing to the hour at which an inquiry has been held, the Board will require another inquiry to be held; and whether, in the event of the committee finding it inconvenient to hold inquiries at hours suitable to the applicants, they will direct the Commissioners, in the exercise of the powers conferred on them by the Act, to ascertain for themselves the extent of the demand.
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYIf there is any reason to think the interests of applicants for small holdings have been prejudiced by the hour at which inquiries have been held the Board will ask the county council concerned to afford the men other opportunities for an interview. These inquiries are held for the purpose of ascertaining the suitability of applicants, and there does not appear 581 to be at present any necessity for the Commissioners to hold meetings in order to ascertain the extent of the demand.
§ MR. MORRELLAs it is the primary duty of the Commissioners to ascertain what the demand is, will the Department consider the advisability of repaying expenses incurred by county councils when they are left to do the work?
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYThat is a statement that the Commissioners do not do the work they ought to do, and I differ from it entirely.
§ MR. MACKARNESSasked if the Board of Agriculture had any information showing how many councils hold the inquiries in the evening so that labourers can attend.
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYasked for notice of that Question.
§ MR. MORRELLHave the Commissioners ever visited the County of Oxford?
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYYes, Sir, certainly.