§ Mr. RENDALLasked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he was aware that James White, Edward Seals, George Tovey, and George Farrell applied to the Gloucestershire County Council for 14 acres of land between them two years ago; that they were all approved as suitable applicants by the small holdings committee; and that these men desired 14 acres out of a farm of 500 acres let, after their application in March, 1908, to Mr. Ely, of Mayes Hill; and would 1846 he say why no land whatever had been offered the applicants during this long period of time?
§ The TREASURER of the HOUSEHOLD (Sir E. Strachey)We are informed that Messrs. White, Sayles and Tovey are approved applicants, but Mr. Farrell does not appear to have applied to the county council. The other applicants asked for 10 acres of pasture off Mayshill Farm, which was let to the present tenant prior to the receipt of the applications of Messrs. White and Sayles on 13th April, 1908. As the tenant has the right to break up the pasture on his farm the council did not consider the land in his occupation would suit the applicants' requirements, but they have endeavoured to obtain other land, and negotiations are still in progress. It is, I understand, very difficult to acquire suitable land in this neighbourhood at a reasonable price.
§ Mr. RENDALLasked the hon. Member for South Somerset whether he would inquire of the Gloucestershire County Council small holdings committee whether John Dando, dairyman, John Clark, farmer, William Allen, cow-keeper, F. Matthews, baker, and Allen Williams, barber, have been applicants for small holdings to the committee for more than a year; whether they have all been approved as suitable applicants; and whether the committee propose to exercise their compulsory powers of acquiring land to satisfy these men?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThe applicants referred to have been approved with the exception of Mr. Clark, who is considered to have already as much land as he can manage. The county council have been unable as yet to obtain any land at a reasonable price, and they inform us that there does not appear to be any suitable land in the locality in respect of which compulsory powers could be exercised. If my hon. Friend has any information to the contrary, perhaps he will be good enough to let me have it.
§ Mr. RENDALLasked the hon. Member for South Somerset whether he was aware that one Seth Dyer, of Acton Lane, Gloucestershire, applied to the Gloucestershire County Council for a small holding; that his application was approved; that the small holdings committee applied to a Mr. Henry Perrett, brewer, to let or sell land belonging to him to Dyer; that Mr. Perrett then saw Dyer and offered him a convenient field at £9 per annum; and 1847 that, on Dyer's saying he would take it, Mr. Perrett asked him whether he would rather rent of him, Perrett, or the county council, and that, on Dyer's replying of the county council, Mr. Perrett then let the field to another man forthwith; and would he say what further efforts the committee had made to supply this man with land?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYWe are informed that Mr. Dyer is an approved applicant, and that Mr. Perrett offered land to the county council. The rent which would have to be charged was, however, higher than Mr. Dyer was willing to pay, and the offer was therefore not accepted. Mr. Perrett then let the land direct at a higher rent. The county council inform us that they have no knowledge of the alleged communications between Messrs. Perrett and Dyer, and they consider that the latter is not prepared to pay a reasonable rent for the land he requires.