§ MR. ARTHUR LEEI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in connection with the sale by auction of the Coach and Horses public-house at Portsmouth on 18th July, 1907, a reserve price of £9,500 was placed on lot 1, comprising the house, and £500 on lot 2, comprising the garden; or, if these figures are incorrect, will he state what was the reserve price fixed by the War Office.
§ MR. HALDANEThe reserve price was £10,000, as stated in the Question.
§ MR. ARTHUR LEEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the best offer the purchaser has been able to get for his 560 property since the Licensing Bill was introduced has been the sum of £4,400?
§ MR. LEIF JONES () Westmoreland, ApplebyIs the property for sale?
§ MR. HALDANEI am not aware of it; it is news to me.
§ MR. BOTTOMLEY () Hackney, S.Has the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to the statement by the purchaser that the average profits for thirty years past amount to only 3¼ per cent. on the outlay, and whether, under the circumstances, he will consider the equity of returning one half of the purchase money?
§ MR. HALDANEThere have been so many statements made upon the subject of the Licensing Bill that I am quite unable to follow them.
§ MR. BOTTOMLEYMy Question did not refer to the Licensing Bill, but to the profits of this particular house, which was recently in the hands of the Government, and whether, having regard to the fact that it is impossible within the fourteen years' time limit for the purchaser from the Government to recoup himself, the Government will consider the justice of returning one half of the purchase money.
§ [No Answer was returned.]