§ 22. Mr. J. HOGGEasked the Secretary for Scotland whether in the district of Taynuilt, Argyllshire, the policy of the plantation of arable lands prevails and has been explicitly condemned locally by one important public body; whether the greater part of the low ground, partly arable and partly pasture, of the farms of Duntanachan and Barglas is now in the process of being planted; whether the best of the pasture land of the farm of Clachadow has recently been planted; whether, on the estate of Achnacloich the same process has been carried out; whether land in Glencreran, in the parish of Appin, which was scheduled by the Deer Forest Commissioners as suitable for small holdings, has been planted; whether the lands of Inverliever, purchased by the Government for forestry purposes, previously supported a numerous pastoral and agricultural community; and whether, in view of these facts, he will take such steps as will make it possible, by the speeding up of the operations of the Board of Agriculture, to anticipate the planting of trees by the planting of people upon the land?
Mr. McKINNON WOODI have made inquiry and am informed that planting operations have been carried on for some years upon the farms of Duntanachan, Barglas, and Clachadow; that planting upon the Achnacloich estate (chiefly on the hill ground of the home farm) has been in progress for a considerable period; that a few years ago the owner of Fasnacloich, in Glencreran, planted arable ground, which, it is believed, was scheduled by the Deer Forests Commission; that the Office of Woods and Forests are afforesting part of Inverliever on Lochawe, which at one time maintained a pastoral community. I am informed by the Office of Woods and Forests that the total number of men employed on the Inverliever estate is larger now than it was before the purchase. There is no direct statutory power 2239 prohibiting the owners of 'land from planting any part of their estates, but wherever there is a sufficient demand for small holdings the Board of Agriculture for Scotland will endeavour to use the powers of the Small Landholders Act to secure the land for the purpose.
Mr. McKINNON WOODNo, Sir. The lion. Member last week alleged that there was new planting going on for the purpose of defeating the Small Landholders Act.
§ Mr. HOGGEis it not the case, as stated in the question, that land which has been scheduled for the purposes of small holdings is being used for other purposes, and, if that is so, is it not sufficient confirmation of my statement that was being done?
Mr. McKINNON WOODI am not aware that there has been any afforestation of land suitable for small holdings.
§ 23. Mr. MORTONasked whether anything can be done to find increased holdings under the Small Landholders Act (Scotland), 1911, for the applicants at Laid Durness, Sutherland; and, if not, why not as promised, the applicants being quite willing to pay a fair rent?
Mr. McKINNON WOODI am informed that the applicants from the district of Laid are without the means to stock new holdings and in these circumstances the Board of Agriculture are not able to entertain their applications.
§ Mr. MORTONMay I ask whether nothing can be done to give these people the land which it was proposed to give them under the Small Landholders Act, 1907?
Mr. McKINNON WOODI do not think the hon. Member is right in saying that the Act is intended to deal with cases where people are unable to stock the farm.
§ Mr. MORTONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that 390.000 acres were marked out as suitable land for this purpose? I want to know when the Government are going to carry out the Act of Parliament?
§ Mr. HOGGEIs it the case that a large number of people cannot take these holdings because of their inability to provide stock, and is the right hon. Gentleman, as head of the Board of Agriculture, hastening the creation of credit banks in order that that may be possible, and that these people may get on to the land?
Mr. McKINNON WOODI am doing what I can in the matter of credit banks, but the Act did not contemplate finding money for stocking farms.
24. Major HOPEasked the Secretary for Scotland whether, in view of the fact that it has only been possible to find tenants for seven of the twelve small holdings constituted at Lindean, Selkirk, last Whitsunday term day, he will instruct the Commissioner for small holdings that, in future, when submitting to the Land Court schemes for land settlement, which involve the breaking up of farms, he should produce evidence that there are suitable applicants for small holdings willing to occupy the land?
Mr. McKINNON WOODI would point out to the hon. and gallant Member that in this case there are a sufficient number of suitable applicants, although they could not all be settled last Whitsunday. The other tenants are taking up the holdings at Martinmas next.
§ Captain GILMOURWhat steps have been taken to look after the land which is not occupied?
Mr. McKINNON WOODI should require notice of that. I cannot say now precisely what steps have been taken.
§ Mr. HOGGECan the right hon. Gentleman say how the small holders on the land could have been accommodated if this land had not been provided?
§ Colonel GREIGIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that twice the number of landholders have been put on the land than was offered by the owners?
§ 26. Mr. MORTONasked the Lord Advocate whether there is any appeal from the decisions or refusal to find land of the Board of Agriculture (Scotland); and whether applicants can appeal to the Land Court to compel the Board of Agriculture to carry out the provisions of the Small Landholders Act, 1911, forthwith?
§ The LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. Ure)The provisions relating to the powers and duties of the Board of Agriculture for Scotland are contained in the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act, 1911, to which and especially to Sections 4 and 7 of that Act, I refer my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. MORTONAm I to understand from the right hon. Gentleman that there is no appeal to the Land Courts against the decisions of the Board of Agriculture?
§ 27. Mr. MORTONasked whether the case respecting enlargement of holdings from an owner other than the owner under which the applicants hold land has yet been submitted to the Land Court (Scotland) and whether the decision will be announced before the end of the Session?
§ Mr. URENo application raising the point referred to by my hon. Friend has been presented to the Land Court.
§ Mr. MORTONWhat has become of the promise of the Secretary for Scotland to bring forward that appeal?