HC Deb 24 February 1914 vol 58 cc1577-80
28. MARQUESS Of TULLIBARDINE

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether the Board of Agriculture recently put forward a scheme for constituting four new holdings on the farm of Ichvachan, Taynuilt; whether the scheme was withdrawn on the sale of the estate; and, if so, why was this course adopted?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

I would refer the Noble Lord to the reply given to the hon. Member for the College Division of Glasgow on this subject last Tuesday.

MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINE

Was not the scheme to all intents and purposes drawn up before the sale took place, and was it not withdrawn only when the purchase took place? Was not the purchaser an ex-Liberal M.P.?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

All the information is given in the previous reply. I do not know whether the purchaser was an ex-Liberal M.P. It is quite likely he was. I believe the purchaser was not unwilling, and that a settlement by agreement may still be arrived at.

Mr. WATT

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware the agent of his Department was supposed to be closely associated with the agent of the purchaser?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

What agent of my Department does the hon. Member refer to?

Mr. WATT

The sub-commissioner.

Mr. McKINNON-WOOD

No sub-commissioner was concerned. Nobody had any influence at all. It was merely a question of the cost of the holding.

Sir G. YOUNGER

Is it not the Crown Agent for Scotland who is referred to by the hon. Member opposite?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

I received information to that effect from the hon. Baronet the other day. I was not aware.

29. MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINE

asked whether, in the case of Eoligary, Barra, the farm was tenanted by a working farmer called Macgillivray; whether half this farm was divided into small holdings by the Congested Districts Board and a promise given that it would not be further sub-divided; whether Macgillivray therefore bought the balance and worked it, but now, although it is his all, the Land Court have ordered it to be subdivided into small holdings, and have rejected Macgillivray's plea that it was his home farm on the grounds that having no tenants he could have no home farm?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

Messrs. W. and M. Macgillivray are occupying owners of the farm and estate of Eoligary, which they held as tenants of Lady Cathcart, together with the lands of Grean, Cleat and Ardveenish, up to 1901, when the said lands were sold to the Congested Districts Board for division among Barra cottars, while the Macgillivrays bought the farm of Eoligary (about 3,318 acres in area). I am informed that the Congested Districts Board gave no undertaking as suggested. The Board of Agriculture have applied for 831 acres of the farm for new holdings, and the Land Court, while repelling the plea that Eoligary is a home farm, have not given a decision as stated in the question.

33. Mr. WILLIAM YOUNG

asked how-many small holdings have been established in the county of Perth since the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act, 1911, came into force; whether the Board of Agriculture has any schemes for land settlement in the county under consideration; and whether any of them are likely to mature at an early date?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

One new holding is actually occupied, and the work of settling applicants on four other holdings in respect of which the Land Court recently granted a compulsory order is now proceeding. In addition, schemes for the establishment of twenty-four holdings will probably mature in the near future.

MARQUESS Of TULLIBARDINE

How many existing small holdings have been dealt with in the county of Perth?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

I must ask for notice of that question.

38. Mr. BRACE

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he is aware that a number of applicants for small holdings, members of the Porthcawl Small Holdings Association, have failed absolutely to secure land for small holdings after waiting for years; whether land in Glamorganshire intended for small holdings by the Glamorgan County Council has been let, or is proposed to be let, to tenants at present farming extensive areas; whether the sanction of the Board of Agriculture has been sought to dispose of land in Glamorganshire intended for small holdings in this manner; whether the Board of Agriculture has sanctioned, or proposes to sanction, any such scheme; and, inasmuch as the Porthcawl smallholders have had no provision made for them, what action the Board of Agriculture propose to take without delay to secure for the members of the Porthcawl Smallholders Association the small holdings they have applied to the authorities for?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Herbert Lewis)

It is the case that no land has yet been let to the Porthcawl Society, and that certain land acquired by the county council in the district has been let to other applicants, but the Board are informed by the council that all the tenants have stated in writing that the total area of land held by each of them does not exceed 50 acres. A scheme dealing with the land has been submitted by the county council, but before confirm- ing it the Board propose to hold a local inquiry into all the circumstances of the case.