§ 18. Colonel ROPNERasked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether he can make any statement which would indicate in general terms the various reasons which have led forest smallholders who have vacated their holdings to give up this work; and whether, in particular, he can say if smallholders who have vacated their holdings have for the most part done so on account of success or failure?
§ Colonel Sir GEORGE COURTHOPE (Forestry Commissioner)Forest workers under the Commission who have vacated their holdings have done so for various reasons, that is to say, return to 1729 former occupation on revival of industry, transfer on promotion, illhealth and their domestic reasons. Few have been unsuccessful with their holdings.
§ 19. Colonel ROPNERasked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, what proportion of original tenants still occupy their forest smallholdings?
§ Sir G. COURTHOPESixty-nine per cent. of original tenants of Commission workers' holdings still occupy their holdings.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSCan the hon. and gallant Gentleman give the reasons why the 31 per cent. left their holdings?
§ Sir G. COURTHOPEI have just done so. Several have gone back to their former occupations owing to the revival of industry which was temporarily in suspense. A good many have left the district because they have been promoted in the forestry service. One man left because his wife was disappointed to find that there was not a tram line opposite the holdings.
§ 20. Colonel ROPNERasked the hon. and gallant Member for Eye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, what is the percentage of the number of tenants of forest smallholdings who have given up this work because of lack of success to make a living?
§ Sir G. COURTHOPEThe number of tenants of commission workers' holdings who have given up forestry work because of lack of success to make a living is negligible, as the majority of the tenants are employed full time in the forest.
§ Sir ROBERT HAMILTONCan the hon. and gallant Gentleman say how many of these forest holdings there are?
§ Sir G. COURTHOPEAbout 1,250.