§ MR. GEORGE ROBERTSI beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he is aware that David Nicholls, who has applied to the Kent County Council for a small holding, is about to be evicted from his cottage by the landlord, part of whose land was suggested as suitable for small holdings, and that Nicholls is now being subject to a local boycott, having been refused an adjacent vacant cottage on the ground of his resistance to the aforesaid eviction; whether he is aware that other persons in the locality are being restrained from making application for land under the Small Holdings and Allotments Act for fear of similar intimidation; and whether his Department contemplates any action to protect persons in such circumstances, and, if so, what.
§ THE TREASURER OF THE HOUSEHOLD (Sir EDWARD STRACHEY,) Somersetshire, S.The facts are as stated, 1711 and the President of the Board much regrets that he has no power to interfere. The President is, however, urging the county council to acquire the farm, for part of which Nicholls has applied, and has advised them to apply for a compulsory order if they cannot obtain it voluntarily.
§ MR. BELLOCMay I ask the hon. Gentleman whether he or any of his colleagues know of any way by which this attack on an existing law can be prevented?
§ MR. SPEAKERThat is too general a Question to ask without notice.
§ MR. GEORGE ROBERTSIs the hon. Gentleman aware of the fact that not only has Nicholls been evicted from his cottage but also dismissed from his employment, and is he in a position to state to the House the name of the person who has thus discharged him?
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYNo, I am not; but I shall be very glad to inquire if the hon. Gentleman will put down a Question.
§ MR. CROOKS (Woolwich)Is any action whatever going to be taken to prevent these methods being used to coerce agricultural labourers?
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYI have already replied that my noble friend has no power to interfere.
§ MR. BELLOCIs he not going to do anything?
§ MR. CROOKSWhat is the use of passing the Act?
§ MR. BELLOCExactly.
§ [No Answer was returned.]
§ *MR GEORGE ROBERTSI beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he is aware that the Dairy Farm, Crockham Hill, which is suitable and available for small holdings under the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1907, has been applied for by mem- 1712 bers of the Limpsfield Land Club, included among whom is David Nicholls; that the county council representatives received information relating to this farm from the secretary of the club in the spring of this year; that the negotiations have been delayed because the county council representatives have asked the applicants to pay a rent of at least £2 5s. an acre, whereas the rent now paid is less than 10s. per acre, and that upon the men refusing to pay this increased rent they were offered as an alternative certain chalk land on Westerham Hill, between four and five miles distant, without housing accommodation or water supply, and unsuited for small holdings, at an annual rental of £1 15s. per acre; and whether he will lay upon the Table the memoranda and correspondence prepared by the Limpsfield Land Club, the correspondence between the men and the county council representatives, and the report of the Board's inspector thereon.
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYThe county council came to the conclusion that the Dairy Farm, Crockham Hill, could not be acquired voluntarily at such a price as would enable them to let it at rents which the applicants were willing to pay. They then offered them other land in the locality which they considered suitable, but this the applicants refused to entertain. The Board have made a careful inquiry into the matter and have informed the county council that the Dairy Farm appears suitable for small holdings and that the county council should consider whether it should not be acquired compulsorily. If this can be done at a reasonable price it will be possible to provide a holding for Mr. Nicholls. The Board do not think that any useful purpose would be served by the publication of the report of their inspector or of the correspondence in the matter.
§ MR. BELLOCIs the hon. Gentleman aware that this land that was to be let at £1 15s. an acre has been offered at £10 an acre as freehold in the last few years?
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYI am not aware of that, but I am aware that 1713 this land is only rented now at something over 15s. an acre, and the two ladies who own it are asking £60 an acre, which seems a most exorbitant price.
§ MR. GEORGE ROBERTSIs the hon. Gentleman aware of the many complaints that are made as to the slowness of the methods of investigating the various applications made under this Act; does he think that two inspectors are sufficient to deal with these applications; and, if not, will he consider the desirability of making further appointments?
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYAs I stated to the House the other day, another inspector has been appointed, and if it is considered necessary by my noble friend he will not scruple to appoint another.
§ MR. CROOKSDo you think there will be any of those who have applied alive by that time?
§ [No Answer was returned.]