§ 36. Mr. WATTasked the Secretary for Scotland whether the commissioners of small holdings in Scotland are all whole-time servants of the Crown, or whether they have other outside duties and emoluments?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThere is only one commissioner for small holdings in Scotland; he is assisted by three sub-commissioners. The commissioner and the sub-commissioners are all whole-time servants of the Crown, and have no other outside duties or emoluments.
§ Mr. WATTHave they got anything in the nature of a directorship of a railway company, or industrial concern outside?
§ 39. Mr. DUNCAN MILLARasked whether a number of applications for small holdings under the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act, 1911, from Hart-hill and the surrounding district were lodged with the secretary to the Scottish Board of Agriculture about May, 1912; if the right hon. Gentleman can state what steps have been taken to consider and deal with these applications; and whether the Commissioner for Small Holdings has yet visited the Harthill district or reported upon these applications?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; one of the sub-Commissioners to the Commissioner for Small Holdings has made inquiries in the Harthill district, 1169 but it has not been possible to discover any land available for the purpose of meeting the special demand of the applicants, most of whom are miners. I am informed that several of these applications are not of the ordinary kind for the purpose of cultivating the land.
§ 40. Mr. RENDALLasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that David Meredith applied to the Radnorshire small holdings committee for a small holding in March, 1908; that his application was in due course approved; that he has since repeatedly asked the small holdings committee to satisfy his approved requirements; and will he explain why no land whatever has been offered him during the whole of this period of four years ten months?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Runciman)Mr. Meredith applied to the Brecon County Council for a particular farm, but the council considered that in consequence of the heavy cost of making the necessary adaptations and repairs, the rent which they would have to charge would be too high. The owner offered another farm to the council for the purpose of satisfying Mr. Meredith's requirements, but he refused it.
§ 41. Mr. RENDALLasked whether James Edward Critchard applied to the Devonshire small holdings committee for a small holding in February, 1908; that his application was in due course approved; that he has since repeatedly asked the small holdings committee to satisfy his approved requirements; and will the right hon. Gentleman explain why no land what ever has been offered him during the whole of this period of four years, eleven months?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANMr. Critchard applied for a particular piece of land, which the county council were of opinion could not be taken without injustice. I am informed that he has received and refused several offers of land, and that the council have received no communication from him for over two years.
§ 42. Mr. RENDALLasked whether Samson C. Crocker applied to the Devon shire Small Holdings Committee for a small holding in 1909; that his application was in due course approved; that he has since repeatedly asked the Small Holdings Committee to satisfy his approved require- 1170 ments; and will the right hon. Gentleman explain why no land whatever has been offered him during the whole of this period of nearly four years?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANMr. Crocker applied for twenty acres, and, through the' intervention of the county council, he has been provided with about twelve acres. It was understood that this land satisfied his requirements, but he has recently applied for more, and I am informed that his, application is under consideration.
§ 43. Mr. RENDALLasked whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that Thomas Titterton applied to the Derbyshire Small Holdings Committee for a small holding in February, 1908; that his application was in due course approved; that he has since repeatedly asked the Small Holdings Committee to satisfy his approved requirements; and will he explain why no land whatever has been offered him during the whole of this period of four years and eleven months?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANMr. Titterton applied for a particular piece of land, which could not be obtained for him without hardship to the existing tenant. He has recently been offered a holding of twelve acres in another part of the county, which he has refused. I am informed that, if any suitable land in his neighbourhood becomes available, the council will endeavour to meet his requirements.