§ *MR. COURTHOPE (Sussex, Rye)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War at what date the agricultural tenants of the land on Salisbury Plain which the War Office intends to purchase for artillery ranges will be required to quit their holdings; and whether the two years' notice to quit which is customary in this district has been given.
§ MR. HALDANEThe land will be required for military purposes for the training season of 1910, i.e., early in June of that year. The War Office has no information as to the alleged custom mentioned, but, of course, custom having legal validity will be observed.
§ *MR. COURTHOPEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these tenants will not be able to gather in their 1910 crops?
§ MR. WALTER LONG (Dublin, S.)asked how it was proposed to arrange for the tenants on these lands to gather their crops and to deal with their holdings, 29th September being passed, and no notice having been given?
§ MR. HALDANEsaid the tenants knew the land would be required. It would not be required till 1910, and he presumed they would make their arrangements accordingly.
§ MR. ARTHUR LEEwished to know if there would be no range available for the Territorial Artillery in the South of England until 1910.
§ MR. HALDANEreplied that no such inference could be drawn from what he had said.
§ *MR. COURTHOPEWill not these people be given a full year's notice?
§ MR. HALDANEThe land is not required till 1910.
§ *MR. COURTHOPEWas notice given before Michaelmas this year?
§ MR. HALDANEThe hon. Member overlooks the fact the land is not required till 1910.
§ *MR. COURTHOPEBut tenancies run from Michaelmas to Michaelmas, and as the land is required in June, 1910, notice should have been given before last Michaelmas.
§ *MR. COURTHOPEI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, in view of his decision to give no compensation for disturbance to the tenant farmers about to be disturbed on Salisbury Plain, and of the fact that the simultaneous disturbance of so large a number in the same locality will render it impossible for them to dispose profitably of their produce and live or dead stock, whether the War Office will take over at valuation the produce and live or dead stock of any such tenant who desires to dispose of it in this way.
§ MR. HALDANEWe hope that the arrangements which have been made for leaving the tenants in occupation until the beginning of June, 1910, will give them ample time to dispose of their stock. I cannot give any such general and far-reaching undertaking as that suggested by the hon. Member.
§ *MR. COURTHOPEDoes the right hon. Gentleman think it right that the War Office should treat these tenants less favourably than the Government compels private owners to treat their tenants?
§ MR. HALDANENegotiations are going on with the tenants.
§ *MR. COURTHOPEI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the proposed purchase of land on Salisbury Plain will involve the division of any properties; and, if so, whether the War Office will undertake to purchase the whole of any such property, if the owner desires, or will pay compensation for the loss of 768 amenities and dimunition of value which the division of such properties involves.
§ MR. HALDANEIt is probable that the purchase will involve the division of some properties. In cases, such as the present, when the purchase is by agreement the owners may be trusted to look after themselves. An owner in agreeing a price always takes into consideration matters such as damage by severance, loss of amenity, etc. When the purchase is by compulsion these items are included in the compensation.
§ *MR. COURTHOPEAre we to understand there is no compulsion in this case?
§ MR. HALDANEI hope there will be none.