§ 56. Mr. RENDALLasked whether Stephen Tilley applied to the Wiltshire Small Holdings Committee for a small holding in January, 1908; whether his application was in due course approved; whether he has since repeatedly asked the small holdings committee to satisfy his approved requirements; if no suitable land within reach of his abode has at any time been offered him during this long period of five years; and, if not, why not?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe county council have tried without success to obtain land to satisfy Mr. Tilley's application, and in May last they made a compulsory hiring order with that object; but the Board were unable to confirm the order. Some alternative land to that scheduled in the order was offered, but Mr. Tilley refused it
§ 57. Mr. RENDALLasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that William Watts applied to the Cambridgeshire Small Holdings Committee for a small holding in October, 1907; that his application was in due course approved, and that he has since repeatedly asked the small holdings committee to satisfy his approved requirements; and will he explain why no suit able land within reach of his abode has at any time been offered him during this period of five years and three months?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANMr. Watts already occupies forty acres in the parish of Lode, Cambridgeshire, and he has applied for ten acres more. The county council have acquired 122 acres in the parish for small holdings, and these have been let to applicants who were in greater need of land than Mr. Watts appears to be. I am informed that when more land is available the council will be prepared to let him have sufficient to bring his holding up to the maximum acreage.
§ 58. Mr. RENDALLasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that Frederick Munt applied to the Oxfordshire Small Holdings Committee for a small holding three or four years ago; that his application was in due course approved, and that he has since repeatedly asked the small holdings committee to satisfy his approved requirements; and whether he will explain why no land has been offered him during the whole of this period?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANMr. Munt has applied for five acres of accommodation land at Horsepath, Oxfordshire, and no suitable land can at present be obtained by agreement. The council are satisfied that if compulsory powers were used the rent would be more than he is prepared to pay. The Small Holdings Commissioner for the district has the case in hand, and I hope that it may be found possible to provide Mr. Munt with land before long.
§ 59. Mr. RENDALLasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that Richard Bass applied to the Bucks Small Holdings Committee for a small holding in May, 1908; that his application was in due course approved, and that he has since repeatedly asked the small holdings committee to satisfy his approved requirements; and will he explain why no suitable land within reach of his abode has at any time been offered him during this period of four years and eight months?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANMr. Bass applied for four to six acres of arable land at Brill, Bucks. Nearly all the land in the neighbourhood is grass, and it is impossible to obtain arable land without doing great injustice to the present occupiers. Mr. lass was offered some pasture land last Michaelmas, but refused to pay the rent asked; he afterwards changed his mind, but by that time the land had been let to other applicants.